Eddie Howe to clamp down on Joelinton after Newcastle horror show - pundit

Newcastle midfielder Joelinton needs to ‘go back to basics’ or face being dropped by manager Eddie Howe after a poor start to the season.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, ex-Scotland striker Frank McAvennie tells the 28-year-old Brazillian to stop trying to play like Michel Platini but has backed him to get back to top form in the near future.

The central midfielder has started in all of Newcastle’s opening four Premier League games but was dragged off by his manager at half-time against Wolves on Sunday (September 15).

Joelinton struggled to keep up with the Wolves midfield, and after receiving a booking, Howe decided to switch things up with the midfielder committing two fouls and only winning 29 per cent of his ground duels throughout the first half.

Joelinton under fire at Newcastle United

The Brazilian started well, scoring the winner in Newcastle’s 1-0 win over newly promoted Southampton in their first game of the season, but has since dropped off the pace.

Howe’s side currently sit in third place, level on points with Arsenal and just two points behind league leaders Man City.

“I think he’s got to watch himself because that’s two or three games he’s not played well”, McAvennie told Football Insider.

“I watched him at the weekend, he kept giving the ball away, that’s his biggest problem.

“It’s alright having a bad game, and I keep saying it, but if you’re having a bad game go back to basics, simple passes and get yourself back into the game.

“Some people when they’re having a bad game think they did to make an exceptional pass and all they do is get themselves in bigger trouble.

“Just play it easy, get yourself back into the game and the fans will get behind you, they can see your still trying.

“To try what we call up here ‘Platini passes’, remember Platini used to make these 70-yard passes and everybody thinks they can do it.

“It just makes it harder because I feel for the boy, he’s a good player, I don’t know what’s going on in his life but the last couple of games he’s not been himself.

“He is a damn good player and I’m sure Eddie will sort that out and sort it out very quickly.”

In other news, Eddie Howe to be frozen out at Newcastle as new Paul Mitchell plan revealed.

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The post Eddie Howe to clamp down on Joelinton after Newcastle horror show - pundit appeared first on Football Insider.