Steve Bruce has given a vote of confidence to under-fire striker Joelinton.
The Brazilian has scored just one goal in 22 games, and none in the last 19, and the Newcastle United boss has ordered the £40million record signing to lift his game and “get stuck in” against Wolves on Saturday.
Bruce insists “there is a good player” ready to emerge, despite the star being abused by Toon fans after another blank against Rochdale last week.
Joelinton had chants of: “You're not fit to wear the shirt...” hurled at him by some angry away fans.
Bruce says the only answer is to “persevere”, with Andy Carroll fit again this weekend and Dwight Gayle desperate for a fresh chance up front.
Bruce said: “The key is confidence, and as far as we can, to keep him in good spirits. This is my job, and for my staff. When we see him training we know there is a good player there. We have seen glimpses.
“However they are judged by scoring goals. A striker needs to kick on. He has not missed a training session or a game for me. I hope against Wolves he will really step up and get stuck in.
“He’s a young lad and the number nine shirt wears heavy. The great thing is he works every day and wants to learn and improve.
“When you’re up against it, all you can do is roll up your sleeves and keep working. We were saying the same about Almiron and all of a sudden, he’s got two goals in two weeks.
“I see him every day and he works extremely hard. In training and in games his stats are very good. He’s got that classic thing of being a striker who needs a goal.”
Bruce has given a transfer window update. Ademola Lookman is on his radar, but there is uncertainty whether RB Leipzig will let him leave on loan.
It is likely Newcastle will see what deals are to be done in the last few days of the window.
Bruce said: “I’ve said all along that if we can improve the team. I’ll try to do it. That goes for midfield, up front for a defender. It’s fair to say we would like to add to our firepower, of course we would, but it’s very difficult.
“I’ve been linked with 38 players that have been run past me. He’s one of them. He’s a good player, I like him, but it’s a bit far off at the minute.
“I’m very relaxed on it because my experience of being in and around January and knowing how ridiculous it is. We will try, and if there’s someone out there and there’s a deal to be done and he can improve us, we will try to act.”
Allan Saint-Maximin is back training but will be given time to get his fitness back after a hamstring injury and is not available this weekend.
