Joelinton shows promise – but needs to do more

PALACE PERFORMANCE WAS GOOD BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH

THE big debate on Tyneside this week has been whether or not we have at last seen the birth of the real Joelinton.

Having spent a club record £40m on the big Brazilian we are now into his second season during which time his goals record – three Premier League strikes in 47 appearances – has been frankly awful.

However, he made Callum Wilson’s breakthrough goal at Crystal Palace and then scored himself to spark thoughts the real Joelinton is now among us.

Well, is he?

I don’t want to be unkind, I really don’t, but it will take more than one match to convince me the £40m was money well spent.

Joelinton (pictured) needs to go on a run of good performances topped off by a few goals before he can claim this is the new him.

What he did at Palace was keep going for the full 90 minutes, which he has not always done, and he gained his reward in the end.

What he also did was miss two gilt-edged chances before that 100 seconds of mayhem at the death.

“I admire him for sticking at it when he could have folded but he has to improve his scoring record.

Even a relieved Steve Bruce, gushing over him post-match, admitted that part of his game needs a vast improvement.

When I watch Big Joe closely I feel he does not strike the ball cleanly.

More often than not he scuffs his shots. If I am brutally truthful I feel his effort which put United 2-0 up was really an own goal.

His shot was heading for the far post, maybe even outside it, when it struck Gary Cahill and was diverted this side of the keeper’s trailing leg.

However, good luck to him. I am more than happy for him to be given it.

I was more impressed with his cushioned pass to set up Wilson.

That was top-drawer and perhaps his best position will turn out to be a No.10 because it is is not at No. 9.

The amazing thing is that while Joelinton’s goals return is so poor for a player deemed worth a club record fee United “gave away” two promising young strikers in Adam Armstrong and Ivan Toney.

Both are tearing up the Championship – they are the division’s top scorers – but United did not deem them worthy of further perseverance.

That might come back to haunt them when Toney and Brentford confront them in the quarter-finals of the League Cup. United have a bunch of strikers, Wilson apart, who have dreadful records. Surely either Armstrong or Toney – perhaps both of them – could do better?

Wilson is the real deal and Newcastle are very lucky to have him.

He has already scored more league goals than any other player did in the whole of last season.

However late it was and however drab the match had previously been, United’s 2-0 victory at Palace was a terrific result.

The pity is they could niot follow up with a good result at Aston Villa. That is a huge blow though we can only wish all players and staff affected by coronavirus all the very best.

Once we get going again it will be interesting to see how Joelinton fares.