Alan Shearer admits Joelinton is not a striker - but believes the blame for his struggles lies with Newcastle United's recruitment team.
The Brazilian has so far struggled on Tyneside since becoming the Magpies' record signing, netting just three times in black and white.
Joelinton's only strike in the Premier League came in August, and United head coach Steve Bruce recently suggested the 23-year-old is more comfortable in a wide role.
The number nine has borne the brunt of the criticism this campaign as Bruce's side have struggled to replace Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez's goals from last season.
Shearer agrees that Joelinton should have contributed more goals for the Magpies, and he needs to adapt his game to get into the box more.
However, United's record goalscorer also highlighted the fact the club took a "huge gamble" on a player who had never been prolific in Austrian or German football.
Speaking on BBC 5 Live Sport on Saturday, Shearer said: "I think it's also important to recognise that he had not scored more than six or seven league goals in a season.
"Someone has decided to say right, we're going to pay £40 million for you, give you the number nine shirt and you're going to play centre forward.
"He is not a centre forward. Someone at Newcastle has decided we're going to take a huge gamble on him. It's hard enough coming into the Premier League anyway when you've been playing in a foreign league.
"Someone has said go on, get on with it. That puts huge pressure on him, so it's slightly unfair for us to sit and judge.
"Of course he has to get in the box more, of course he should have scored more goals. But can you imagine what that's done to his confidence?
"It doesn't seem he wants to get into the box now, so he might have to play him in a different position."
When asked by presenter Mark Chapman on who signed off on the deal for Joelinton, Shearer answered: "You would have to think it's the head of recruitment. "
