Bruno Guimaraes, Alan Shearer react to announcement from Newcastle ace Joelinton
Bruno Guimaraes and Newcastle legend Alan Shearer reacted to an announcement from midfielder Joelinton.
The former Hoffenheim man played an instrumental role in the Magpies earning qualification to the Champions League last season.
However, injuries marred parts of Joelinton’s season and the 28-year-old played 29 times in the Premier League.
Without his influential midfielder, Eddie Howe was forced to tweak his tactical set-up, using Sandro Tonali and Guimaraes as a duo in the centre of the park, with a back five behind them.
This led to some shaky performances, as players like Jacob Murphy struggled to adapt to new roles, despite having played so well previously.
Joelinton leads Newcastle’s kit announcement
Joelinton shared three images of himself in Newcastle’s new third kit on Instagram, with the caption: “Classic. New kit day.”
The post was liked by Magpies legend Shearer, and the Brazilian’s teammate for both club and country, Guimaraes.
Joelinton injury shows need for midfield reinforcements
Football Insider Verdict
Had it not been for Aston Villa’s inability to overcome Man United on the final day of the season, Newcastle would have missed out on Champions League football.
The Magpies endured a disappointing defeat at the hands of Everton as the North Eastern team registered just two wins from their last six games.
Newcastle‘s deep cup runs, which included winning the Carabao Cup, may have played a significant role in the team looking tired and deflated.
But a key factor in the drop-off in form was the loss of Joelinton. Without the Brazilian crashing through opposition midfields and working in tandem with Tonali and Guimaraes, the Magpies looked lost and out of ideas.
The 28-year-old’s absence highlighted the need for alternative options for Howe. The Brazil international has missed 27 Premier League games over the last two seasons and Newcastle cannot afford another dip in form next year when they will be competing not only for a place in the Champions League, but in Europe’s most prestigious tournament itself.