Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles has told the Daily Star that he thinks Joelinton and Allan Saint-Maximin have a lot to offer the club.
The Magpies lost their opening game of the Premier League season, falling to a 1-0 home defeat as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck the winner.
Newcastle showed promise in the first half, but ultimately fell away in the second period, despite spirited Premier League debuts for attackers Joelinton and Saint-Maximin.
Joelinton has been snapped up as Newcastle’s new number nine, replacing Salomon Rondon as the big, physical centre forward to lead the line having arrived in a big-money move from Hoffenheim.
The Brazilian started against Arsenal, but Saint-Maximin – Ayoze Perez’s replacement after joining from Nice – had to make do with being a substitute, and impressed in a cameo.
Steve Bruce needs the duo to hit the ground running in the Premier League, as it’s hard to see where goals are coming from outside of those two – and captain Lascelles has given his view on the pair.
Lascelles has suggested that Joelinton has two key attributes in his locker, believing that he is ‘powerful’ and has good feet, believing that’s exactly what you want in a striker.
The defender added that Saint-Maximin is a ‘livewire’, and admitted that he’s been something of a surprise as new players usually take a while to settle down, but the Frenchman has instantly ‘made himself known’ at Newcastle.
“They are fast, physical, hungry and have goals in them,” said Lascelles. “The big man (Joelinton) is a handful. He’s powerful and good with his feet which is what you want from your No. 9 if he can grab a few goals.
“Allan is a livewire. Normally when players come into the club, it takes them a good couple of weeks to settle down and relax but straight away, he has made himself known. He’s a good player and has a lot to offer,” he added.
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