I am not saying Joelinton is finished at Newcastle United but at the same time…

Joelinton has been an incredible story at Newcastle United.

The final stages of the Rafa Benitez era at St James’ Park, saw the Spaniard refuse to bow to Mike Ashley’s insistence and desperation to sign the Brazilian from Hoffenheim.

It has still never ever been explained why Ashley behaved as he did about Joelinton.

After refusing to follow up his promises to Rafa to back him after promotion, instead the Newcastle United owner forced the then manager to rely on bargain buys, loans and getting far more out of existing players at the club who should have been moved on.

Then suddenly after all that, in what turned out to be the final months of Rafa Benitez, Mike Ashley suddenly was relentless on the manager agreeing to spend £40m on Joelinton, a fee that would at least double the existing NUFC transfer record.

Then followed a sad AND comical state of affairs, as Rafa was forced out, Ashley paid compensation(!!!) to get Steve Bruce from Sheffield Wednesday. Six days after Bruce’s arrival in July 2019, we then saw Joelinton follow him through the door, with Steve Bruce hilariously claiming that he’d had the final say on whether or not to pay the £40m for Joelinton!

The rest is history.

Steve Bruce didn’t have a clue what to do with ‘his’ Newcastle United record signing.

Joelinton had excelled in his 2018/19 breakthrough season at Hoffenheim and starred in the Champions League and Bundesliga playing on the left of a front three.

Steve Bruce played him as a centre-forward and it was a disaster. Indeed, later during his time at NUFC, Bruce ended up regularly leaving out Ashley’…sorry, Bruce’s record signing.

Eddie Howe came in, not long after put Joelinton in midfield. Result!!!

Move forward to Bruno Guimaraes and then Sandro Tonali coming in.

Eddie Howe creating the dream midfield trio, as good as anything in the Premier League.

Last season, the trio carrying United to Champions League qualification and the first trophy in 56 years. At Wembley, the midfield trio were astonishing, they ran all over Liverpool.

Move to the present day and I am not saying Joelinton is finished at Newcastle BUT things have changed.

At times last season there were signs and injuries sustained have impacted more and more.

Joelinton is still an integral part of this Newcastle United squad BUT for me, he is no longer automatic first choice.

For so long, if asked to name an NUFC starting eleven in a must win match, it was a no-brainer to have the midfield three as first names in that team.

Tonali and Bruno remain so but I think Joelinton isn’t necessarily automatic.

Maybe against some teams on same occasions yes.

However, I am seeing a lot from Jacob Ramsey these last couple of games that tell me things are changing.

A more mobile and ball carrying midfielder to play alongside Bruno and Sandro.