With the Champions League campaign underway, Newcastle United will have to rotate.
For the first time in years, Newcastle will have to deal with the relentless nature of playing two games a week on a regular basis.
In the last week, they’ve hosted Brentford, travelled away to AC Milan and are now preparing to make the trip down to Sheffield United. Clearly, that puts a strain on Eddie Howe’s squad.
Indeed, the Toon boss is already missing key players.
Howe lamented the absence of Joelinton for the Milan game and there has now been a fresh update in regards to his fitness.
When Joelinton will be back from injury for Newcastle
Speaking at Friday’s pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to the Blades, Howe sounded hopeful on the 27-year-old’s fitness.
“We’re hoping Joelinton will be back sooner [than the October international break,” he said (via the BBC Sport’s LIVE blog).
Newcastle need Joelinton firing
Perhaps the player to have benefited most from Howe’s arrival, Joelinton has not been at his best this season.
Reverting back into the central midfield role that transformed his Newcastle career and away from the left-wing role he operated in for much of last season, the engine room has not yet clicked.
Clearly, a niggling knee injury would not have helped Joelinton strike up a better understanding next to Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, so perhaps judgement should be reserved.
Still, few would doubt the £40m star has struggled in the opening stages of the campaign, no matter how popular he may be. There is hope things will soon click but Newcastle aren’t blessed with a huge amount of time, given the levels of expectation.
If Newcastle are going to maintain a challenge across both domestic and continental fronts, they need key players like Joelinton firing.
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