Eddie Howe has told Rio Ferdinand that Joelinton epitomises what he wants from his Newcastle United players because the selfless Brazilian has done whatever his manager has asked.
Howe spoke to the BT Sport pundit about the club's record signing off air ahead of Newcastle's 1-0 defeat against Liverpool at St James' Park last week. Joelinton started on the left wing that afternoon, and caused Liverpool problems in the air in the early stages, but the 25-year-old has played the majority of his football under Howe as a combative central midfielder.
That change of position only came about after Ciaran Clark was sent off against Norwich City last November but, tellingly, Joelinton went on to embrace the role and worked hard at it with both the club's coaching staff and, indeed, his own personal analyst, Diego Vieira. Considering Joelinton barely had any experience of being used in the middle of the park, aside from getting sent off while playing there for Rapid Vienna many years ago, the Brazilian's defensive awareness and tactical understanding have been striking.
