Newcastle United have had a season plagued by injuries. Needless to say, Eddie Howe has not had the best of luck since having the opportunity to field his strongest possible lineup has been a rarity. Unfortunately for the English boss, one of those players who has been on the treatment table more often than the pitch is Joelinton.
The Brazil international has been injured for the majority of the season and despite coming back for a few games at a time, he has not looked at his best this season. It's a shame because Eddie Howe is clearly a huge fan of Joelinton, who he can trust to play in a variety of different positions.
That said, Joelinton remains a hugely important player for Newcastle United. When he is fit, he always gives his maximum effort and he is more than likely to start, even when the squad is fully available (chance would be a fine thing).
READ MORE: Yesterday's Newcastle transfer news
Newcastle United close to securing Joelinton contract extension
According to a report from the Telegraph, there has been a breakthrough in the Joelinton contract talks. It is expected that Newcastle United will extend Joelinton's current stay, which would be a huge relief for the club.
Currently, Joelinton runs out of his deal at St James Park in the summer of 2025. This means that he would be at risk of being sold in the upcoming summer transfer window, due to Newcastle not wanting to lose their best players for free. If the breakthrough is reached and Joelinton extends his stay beyond 2025, then this would be incredible business from the Newcastle higher-ups.
Joelinton is expected to miss the remainder of the season but he should come back much stronger. It was the correct decision for Newcastle to mandate his surgery. This means that the player will come back free from pain and discomfort and Newcastle will feel safe in the knowledge that he will bring his A-game back to St James Park.
Next season is an important one for Newcastle United and Eddie Howe. After all, they need to bounce back after a horrid season this time round. The Magpies have done well with what's available to them but next season, there should be no excuses and Eddie Howe should aim to finish higher in the table.
Currently, they are battling for a top six finish before the end of this season which would be a respectable finish, all things considered.
What do you make of the proposed Joelinton contract extension?