‘JOELINTON IS NOT UP TO THE PREM’

LWWWD Lacazette (7)

DLDLL Wilson (8)

Leno, Bellerin,

Holding, Gabriel,

Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Partey,

Smith Saka, Rowe,

Aubameyang, Lacazette NEWCASTLE: Dubravka, Krafth,

Clark, Fernandez,

Dummett, Hayden, M Longstaff,

Ritchie, Joelinton, Almiron,

Wilson

MALCOLM MACDONALD reckons Newcastle United are wasting their time with striker Joelinton.

“For the life of me, I don’t know what’s going on with Joelinton,” said Supermac.

“He has played 53 games and scored three league goals. What any scout saw in him, I really don’t know — and we ended up paying £40million!

“He just doesn’t seem to get involved in games.

Against Arsenal last weekend in the FA Cup, he lost possession two out of every three times he got the ball. He is not Premier League standard.

“His display at the Emirates reminded me of my days playing in the Southern League with Tonbridge when Harry Haslam was the manager.

“If anyone lost the ball at that ridiculous rate, he would be taken off.

“If you’re a team-mate, you lose faith in him and so you stop passing to him.”

Despite the worrying results, Macdonald believes that Toon fans wanting change will be disappointed.

“I don’t think the owner, Mike Ashley, cares,” added Macdonald. “Don’t forget that while he has been the owner, Newcastle have been relegated twice.

“That tells a story.

“What he needs to do is reignite the takeover, but we are in difficult times.”

SLAMMED Joelinton is a Prem flop, says Supermac