Joelinton played a pivotal role in Newcastle United’s comeback against Brentford, capping off a sensational week for the Brazilian.
Eddie Howe recalled Joelinton to the Newcastle starting lineup against West Ham on Wednesday, and the decision was justified with the 26-year-old scoring a brace.
He then retained his place in the side against Brentford, but was asked to play on the left of attack following Allan Saint-Maximin’s injury.
There was then a change after a poor first half, with Joelinton moving centrally to play alongside Bruno Guimaraes. It was a good decision by Howe, and one that kickstarted the second half comeback at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Joelinton played a key role in both goals. His low cross was diverted in for an own goal by Brentford goalkeeper David Raya to draw Newcastle level. Then it was Joelinton’s forward pass to Callum Wilson that eventually led to Alexander Isak scoring the winner.
It was a wonderful performance from Newcastle’s number seven, but he was not happy that he ended the afternoon without a goal to his name.
Joelinton ‘annoyed’ about David Raya own goal decision
On the latest episode of Pod On The Tyne, The Athletic’s Chris Waugh spoke about Newcastle’s first goal against Brentford and shared how Joelinton reacted to it being put down as an own goal.
“He forces the first goal,” he said.
“He completely sits Ben Mee down in the box and then puts it through Raya’s legs. It goes in off Raya, his cross-shot – whatever you want to call it.
“Apparently he was annoyed afterwards that he wasn’t given the goal.”
No chance it was the Newcastle enforcer’s
While the annoyance might be tongue in cheek, there is absolutely no way the first goal against Brentford should have been given to Joelinton. He wasn’t even shooting!
In real time, it was a strange goal. Joelinton always looked intent on setting up a teammate, yet somehow it ended up in the back of the net.
On closer inspection, you can see that he is trying to play it across goal for Wilson, who would have had a tap in. Instead, it went in off Raya, and has gone down as an own goal.
Joelinton had no right to claim the goal as his own, but he will be desperate to score another before the end of the season. He currently has six in all competitions, which equals his best tally in a Toon shirt since his 2019 arrival.
One more will take him up to seven, and make this the best scoring campaign of his Newcastle career. While he is an excellent player now, his goalscoring record is not befitting of a man who cost £40million and was given the prestigious number nine shirt…
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
