OPINION
Newcastle United forward Joelinton certainly highlighted what he is capable of in the recent 3-2 victory over West Ham United.
The club-record signing bullied the Hammers defence at the London Stadium and collected an assist on an afternoon where Steve Bruce’s front three of Miguel Almiron, Allan Saint-Maxmin, and the Brazilian really started to click.
That certainly doesn’t hide the fact that he is struggling to find the back of the net himself, having only scored once since arriving from Hoffenheim.
His problems are summed up when you consider the fact that Jonjo Shelvey, who has played less than half the amount of time in the Premier League, has scored double the number of goals.
Mick Quinn, who scored 57 goals in 110 appearances for the Magpies, has delivered his verdict on the Brazilian and compared him to one of last season’s top-scorers in Salomon Rondon when setting his goals.
“I’ll go back to Salomon Rondon last year,” he wrote for the Chronicle.
“You’re not going to get 20 league goals from Rondon, and you’re not going to get 20 league goals from Joelinton.
“If he can contribute with 12-15 Premier League goals and a few assists with the link-up and the hold-up, then he’s done his job.”
Quinn needs to be realistic with his ambitions for Joelinton, and be aware that he can’t put too much pressure on his shoulders alongside the expectation that is already there for him.
It is an achievable amount of goals, but for this season and the way he has started, it is unrealistic for anyone associated with the Magpies to be expecting 12 goals, never mind 15.
The 23-year-old is only averaging 1.5 shots on goal per game according to WhoScored, and he would need to be involved a lot more to hit the back of the net more frequently.
Joelinton can still do his job effectively if he doesn’t achieve that tally of goals, as he highlighted against West Ham at the weekend where his physical play was simply too much for the opposition.
Quinn must be dreaming if he believes Joelinton can achieve near that tally of goals, and he must let the Brazilian get on with his own game, and start to judge after a full season in the Premier League.
