The crucial question that needs answering about Joelinton deal
attack balls into the box. He hasn’t done that nearly enough.
Mike Ashley, United’s owner, revealed last July that Rafa Benitez vetoed the proposed deal in his last months as manager.
Ashley said: “As a manager, why wouldn't you want Joelinton?”
Bruce – who said it was “insulting” to claim he wouldn’t have the final say on every transfer after his appointment – enthusiastically backed the deal after succeeding Benitez.
“He’s big, strong and athletic, and he’s got age on his side too,” said Bruce. “He’s got all the attributes a top striker needs.”
However, was Joelinton bought because he was what the team needed? Or was he more a player the club felt could eventually be sold on at a profit?
The striker has struggled since making a £40million move from Hoffenheim last summer.
Bruce praised Joelinton’s “unselfish work outside the box”, in Sunday’s 4-0 defeat to Arsenal, but admitted that the 22-year-old didn’t attack the box enough at the Emirates Stadium.
“We’d all like him to have 12 or 15 (goals),” said Bruce, United’s head coach.
“I was pleased with his performance again. He does a lot of unselfish work outside the box, but we have to now find a way of getting him into the box for the crosses that Allan put in.
“We have to find a way of scoring more, and certainly with Joe, of being a bit more selfish. In my opinion, he has to probably stay between the 18-yard box a bit more.
“For the team, he’s a great team player, but your forward is always judged on how many goals he scores.”
Joelinton has also scored two FA Cup goals for Newcastle this season.
*Meanwhile Bruce says there’s “no real sense of urgency” at Newcastle United over expiring contracts.
Matty Longstaff, Federico Fernandez and Javier Manquillo are all out of contract at the club at the end of the season.
Bruce spoke last week of the need for “conversations” with Fernandez and Manquillo, while talks with Longstaff are at an “impasse”. United’s head coach was asked if uncertainty over contracts was an issue at the club, beaten 4-0 by Arsenal on Sunday.
“There’s no uncertainty in the air,” he said. “I think it’s normal.
“We’ve just come out of the January window, and we’ve now got three or four months to start talking, which already has happened.
“There’s no real sense of urgency at all. Of course, the big one is young Matty, but we’ll keep trying and plugging away.”
The Gazette understands Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie have agreed deals.