ELBOW FOR JOE WAS NEVER ON BRUCE’S MIND
STEVE BRUCE wasn’t tempted to cash in on £40million record-singing Joelinton this summer, and wants his critics to “see the positives” in the Brazilian striker.
Joelinton, 24, showed his potential with two goals in the Carabao Cup against League Two Morecambe in midweek and is pushing to be involved at Spurs tomorrow. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was the scene of Joelinton’s best moment, last August, when he grabbed the winner. But his only other Premier League goal was against Sheffield United in June.
Bruce believes there is “definitely a player” in Joelinton (below) and says Newcastle can “unlock” his ability and give him “confidence”ce rather than “hitting him with a stick”. The Toon bossoss said: “There was noo temptation to sell him. The goals he scored the other day give you a clue to his ability. I see it on ththe training groground.
“The thinthing he has tot come to termster with is adapting to the Premier LeLeague, which some great players have struggstruggled with. Joe understands it more now. He still has improvement in him, he is youngy enough. I had no intention of letting hhim go anywhere. We have to work with hhim. That bit of confidence from scoring the other night will help.
“When youy are constantly kicked, then sometimes it bashes away at you, and no one is immimmune to that. We will support him and find it, and get the best out of him.
“AdaptinAdapting to England and the food and weather is very, very difficult. He will turn into a really big player for us. “We just want him confident. This consconstant hitting him with a stick, I hohope he doesn’t read the nnonsense on social media. I’ll remind him of what a good player he is.”
Newcastle must bounce back from their woefulw 3-0 home loss to Brighton, aand Jacob Murphy is now back in Bruce’s pplans after spending last season on loan at SSheffield Wednesday.
Bruce (totop) added: “Since we have come back, he hasha not missed a day, and been decent in ththe warm-up games. All along, I have been ppleased with his progress. He grasped the opportunity at Sheffield.”
Owner MikeM Ashley has posted accounts for his MASMASH Holdings, showing Newcastle had a turnover of £181.5m until April last yyear. His empire, including Sports DirDirect, has revenues of £3.9billi3.9billion, and £488m cash in the bank. NNewcastle United made up just 4.5 per cent of his revenue.