Newcastle United have suffered a fresh injury blow after Joelinton had to be taken off during their game against Leeds United this afternoon.
The 24-year-old was replaced by Sean Longstaff in the 41st minute and appeared to be holding his groin as he left the pitch at Elland Road.
It was the second time in 10 minutes that Joelinton had gone down and Eddie Howe has taken no risks by taking the midfielder off, rather than keeping him on and possibly worsening the problem.
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The Magpies were drawing 0-0 at the time and had just been enjoying their best spell of the game, pressing the Leeds back-line and causing them some trouble.
Having struggled for regular game time at the start of the season, the Brazilian was recalled back to the starting XI for Howe's first game in charge against Brentford back in November.
Joelinton has virtually been an ever-present in the Magpies side since scoring the opener in the 3-3 draw with the Bees and he has seemingly found a new lease of life under the 43-year-old.
Howe has decided to use him in a deeper position alongside Jonjo Shelvey in midfield-two, rather than up front and he has relished that change of role, becoming an important figure in the Magpies set-up.
Before limping off, Joelinton had started the previous 11 matches but he could be added the treatment table with this fresh issue, joining Callum Wilson, Federico Fernandez and Isaac Hayden on the sideline.
Wilson has missed the last three matches after sustained a serious calf problem in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United last month and he may miss up until at least March, which is a blow to Newcastle's chances of staying in the division.
Meanwhile, Fernandez and Hayden could return to action in February and Howe is hoping to get the pair back in contention for the home game against Everton after the winter break, although nothing has yet been confirmed on that front.
However, Joelinton would've been hoping to build on a positive run of form to prove Howe that he should be the first-choice central midfielder heading into the back end of the current season.
Since becoming Newcastle's record signing after joining for around £42m from Hoffenheim in 2019, Joelinton has
Howe may reveal more on the extent of his injury in his post-Leeds press conference.
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