OPINION
There is no hiding from the fact that Newcastle need to do more in the final third this season.
The Magpies have the second-worst attack in the entire Premier League, and have yet to score more than one goal in a single fixture so far this campaign.
Joelinton hasn’t hit the ground running since arriving from Hoffenheim, and the club has encouraged the South American to bring some of his family to England, according to the Telegraph.
The newspaper claim that Steve Bruce is hopeful that it could be the solution behind the Magpies’ club-record signing finding his feet in the Premier League and improve his performances.
The Telegraph report that Newcastle have acknowledged that the Brazilian forward has lacked service in the final third and that Bruce is keen to unlock the potential the club’s scouts saw in him last season.
Joelinton has only scored one goal in the Premier League this season in the 1-0 victory against Tottenham, only having 10 shots on target so far [Daily Mail].
Bruce is clearly desperate to get the best out of the 23-year-old sooner rather than later, but it could be his teammates that need to change in order for that to happen.
There is no hiding from the fact that Joelinton has struggled in the final third this season. His saving grace could be the fact that the entire Magpies’ squad has, and they haven’t exactly helped the Brazilian in his first few months at the club.
Newcastle have acknowledged that, and the fact that he has only managed 10 shots on target proves that his teammates need to create more for him.
Bruce has shown already that he is prepared to keep faith in the forward, and he needs to keep doing so if he is to improve, and the Magpies’ boss must not take the easy option by replacing him – a move that could severely dent his confidence even more.