Centre-back tactics are paying off
Measures behind the scenes are said to have been taken to help the Brazilian settle on Tyneside, with the potential for family members flying over to Newcastle while he beds into a new city and a new league.
Joelinton had similar issues when settling during his early days at Hoffenheim and at 23, he is still very much learning about life in the English top flight.
Whether Bruce decides to axe Joelinton and replace him with Gayle or pair the two up – or leave things as they are – remains to be seen.
If Bruce decides to select Shelvey, he would need no motivation returning to the capital and taking on the side that were linked to sign him last season.
Shelvey has watched on as the Longstaff brothers have replaced him, with Bruce picking youth over experience.
Should Shelvey impress in training for the rest of the week, he could
NEWCASTLE United have worked on getting their centre-backs further up the pitch and it paid dividends for the Magpies’ goal against Wolves on Sunday.
After Sean Longstaff’s cross was headed clear by Conor Coady, the loose ball was chased down by Federico Fernandez, who had come up for a corner a few seconds previously.
Rather than settling for a throw-in in a dangerous position, Fernandez swung the ball back into the box and skipper Jamaal Lascelles was there to nod home at the near post to put the Magpies in front.
While Wolves went on to equalise through Jonny, Bruce was pleased to see his centre-backs offering something going forward after sticking with three at the back.
But, with his side having scored just six Premier League goals this season, are there enough goals in the team?
“At the moment, statistics would tell you arguably not so we have got to try and improve that,” he said. “I was delighted we tried to be a little bit more open if we possibly can.
“The centre-half crossed it for another centre-half. It’s something, would you believe, that we worked on because we have three centrehalves on the pitch. I’m not saying one centre-half crosses for another one but the two of them up the pitch was important.”
Fernandez was making his first league start of the season after Fabian Schär was ruled out of the game with a sore knee but the Switzerland international should be back in contention for the trip to West Ham on Saturday.
Andy Carroll, who suffered a groin strain while stretching for the ball in the defeat at Chelsea earlier this month, could also be available to face his former club.
Newcastle will be without the suspended Sean Longstaff, though, who has been handed a threematch ban following a high tackle on Ruben Neves.
Isaac Hayden, who has just served a three-match suspension himself, is primed to come back into the side and Bruce values the midfielder’s energy in the middle of the park and how he can cover ground quickly.
Bruce is close to having the luxury of a fully-fit squad for the first time.
Matt Ritchie has embarked on another week of training with his team-mates after suffering damaged ankle ligaments against Leicester City in a Carabao Cup clash in August while Florian Lejeune played 45 minutes for the under-23s on Monday night.