Newcastle respond to Joelinton’s Brazil World Cup snub with four-word social media message

“And he asked me to close down the middle there, the normal tactical part. I did very well, I played very well, I defended well, I attacked, I did everything the position asked of me, and because I was a player short, I was able to do well. But he already saw something in me about not being the number nine.

“The way I’d been playing for the last two years, he saw that I could give something more to the team by playing in other positions.

“And if you looked back to when he arrived, I never played in a number nine [position], I’ve played as a second striker, I’ve played on the wing, I’ve played as a 10. And then I started playing as an eight.”

Joelinton’s form has contributed to Newcastle’s excellent season. Howe’s side will definitely go into the World Cup break in the Champions League places, having climbed to third after losing just one of their first 14 matches.