Steve Bruce compares Joelinton to Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe

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Newcastle United signing Joelinton isn’t impressing right now.

Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce has told The Chronicle that he thinks Joelinton can be compared to Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe in that they both need some time to adjust.

The Magpies chose not to sign striker Salomon Rondon permanently over the summer, instead deciding to spend a club-record fee on a younger model.

In came Joelinton from Hoffenheim, having shown some potential last season with seven goals and five assists to his name, and he’ll have been hoping to follow in the footsteps of Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino, another Brazilian attacker who made his name at Hoffenheim.

So far though, Joelinton has cut a frustrated figure at Newcastle. The 23-year-old has managed just one goal in his first 10 games for the club, and that came back in August.

Even worse is that Joelinton hasn’t even managed a shot on target since August 25^th, which really isn’t value for money for Newcastle as he hopes to break his duck against West Ham United this weekend.

Newcastle don’t exactly create many chances for Joelinton in a rather defensive setup under Steve Bruce, and the magpies boss has defended his big-money signing.

Bruce feels that Joelinton will get to grips with the Premier League eventually, and compared him to Arsenal winger Pepe in that regard.

The Gunners have seen flashes of Pepe’s ability after splashing £72million and £140,000-a-week on the Ivorian winger, but he needs time to adjust to English football – and Bruce thinks we’ll see the best of Joelinton in due time, as we will with Pepe.

“We have seen Nicolas Pépé for Arsenal recently get off the mark,” said Bruce. “It takes time. He’s a £72million player, but no matter what your price tag is, it takes time to adjust. Especially when you are young like Joe. He’s only at the start of his career.

“Like all strikers they need a goal, you seen against Spurs when he scored, he was a different proposition after it. He needs like all strikers to score,” he added.