Pat Nevin has told Eddie Howe to deploy Joelinton in a deeper position to get the most out of the Brazilian at Newcastle United, while speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live (30/11, 19:54).
Joelinton has seemed a man reborn since Howe replaced Steve Bruce at the St James’ Park helm last month.
He has delivered back-to-back standout performances under the former Bournemouth boss against Arsenal and Norwich City, and also shone at home to Brentford.
The 25-year-old had continually failed to make a worthwhile contribution in games under Bruce, who oversaw his £40m club-record transfer.
Yet Howe’s arrival has sparked a turn of form in Joelinton, who has continually battled hard for every ball.
Joelinton’s shooting is still not always at the levels Newcastle need, but his graft and defensive contributions have been incredible.
That was the case against Norwich on Tuesday, when Joelinton spurned his best chance to score by blazing the ball over the crossbar and into the stands from distance.
Instead, his best contributions came once Howe moved Joelinton into a deeper, almost midfield role with Newcastle down to 10-men.
Nevin can see Joelinton occupying a deeper role in Howe’s plans going forward, as he can offer more in the Newcastle side when he is not tasked with helping to lead the attack.
“Joelinton’s much better in that position behind the striker,” former Scotland winger Nevin said. “If you play him up front, I just don’t think he’s got the game for it.
“Coming from a deeper area, he can be very powerful and very dangerous.”
Should Howe use Joelinton in Newcastle’s midfield going forward?
Howe initially started Joelinton with Callum Wilson in the Newcastle attack against Norwich on Tuesday night and Arsenal last Saturday.
But it was on the right-wing that he shone brightly against Brentford, and scored his only goal of the season.
Joelinton also stood out once deployed deeper against Norwich, to earn Alan Shearer’s praise as his Man of the Match. Fans, too, lauded his graft to defend as well as attack.
So, as Nevin says, Joelinton’s future in Howe’s plans may be in a deeper role than Bruce and Newcastle signed him for in 2019.
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