Steve Bruce has insisted Joelinton will come good for Newcastle United this season - but has reminded the player he must start "chipping in" with goals soon.
The £40million signing from Hoffenheim was handed the number 9 shirt in the summer as United's marquee arrival, but the uncapped Brazilian has netted just once so far.
Bruce now has Andy Carroll and Dwight Gayle back to fitness and is pondering handing one of them a start this weekend.
Whether that comes at Joelinton's expense remains to be seen.
Bruce said: "He's a very decent player.
"Of course it's not as physical in the Bundesliga as it is in the Premier League.
"He is only young and he has to find his feet.
"He's only 23.
"And I'm sure the longer it goes it will get better.
"We need him to be.
"If you are going to wear the number 9 shirt he's got to chip in with a few goals.
"He can only improve."
But Bruce insists that everybody in a black and white shirt needs to improve in the final third.
Speaking to BBC Sport he added: "We need to be more clinical at the top end of the pitch.
"We did very well for large periods of the game.
"But we need to do better and do more going forward to cause a threat.
"In the first half at Chelsea we had one or two opportunities but did not pick the right pass or the wrong cross."
