Chris Waddle says Joelinton may not have scored for Newcastle United against Sheffield United in front of fans.
The Magpies ' record signing netted the third in a comfortable 3-0 victory over the Blades on Sunday afternoon.
It was his first Premier League goal at St James's Park and came after he spurned a glorious chance to open the scoring in the first half.
Waddle argued that the second opportunity to put the ball in the net may never have happened had fans been able to react to the first half miss.
He told BBC Radio Five Live: "It's about confidence, football.
"Any position you play is about confidence but striker is a lot more.
"He's enjoyed that, where most people have said unlucky - in the dugout they might have thought different things but would have said unlucky, next time.
"It gives him a boost he needs, the players would have said the same whereas normally you'd have had 50,000 fans saying 'what are you doing?'
"It's going to help him between now and the end of the season playing games without a crowd."
Waddle had been critical of Joelinton at half-time, arguing that Dwight Gayle would be a better fit up front for the Magpies, but he praised the striker for not shying away from responsibility.
"He's an honest player," Waddle said.
"Whatever people say and we've all criticised his technique at times, his finishing and his qualities, he's an honest kid.
"He never turns away, doesn't shirk responsibility.
"I think a lot of people will be pleased for him to score - can he add to that before the end of the season? Time will tell.
"The problem is, he came with such a massive pricetag for someone a lot of people didn't know about and he's found it difficult.
"Let's be honest, the way Newcastle play is very much counter-attack, it's not like they pen teams in and you get chance after chance.
"If he gets a chance, he's got to take it and, unfortunately this season, when he as got a chance, he hasn't taken many of them."
