There was some unfortunate news for Newcastle United on Wednesday night, despite their victory over Arsenal, which secured their place in the Carabao Cup final.
The Magpies triumphed 2-0, earning a return to Wembley and giving Eddie Howe a second shot at winning the Carabao Cup after his loss in the 2023 final.
It was an unforgettable evening for Newcastle fans, who created an incredible atmosphere at St James’ Park. Everything seemed to go right for them, especially with the return of Callum Wilson to the squad.
However, while one player made a comeback, another suffered a setback.
Joelinton, who was a major doubt heading into the game due to a knee injury, was officially ruled out. The 28-year-old didn’t feature in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, though he was present, spotted celebrating in a retro Newcastle shirt.
Watching from the sidelines, Joelinton may have to get used to this for the time being.
“I think he [Joelinton] will be out for weeks, not months,” Howe commented. “It’ll be enough to make him miss the next few league games, I think.”
A Midfield Opportunity for Joe Willock
In Joelinton’s absence, Howe opted to replace him with Sven Botman, switching to a back five for a tactical masterstroke. However, this may not be the long-term solution, and it’s likely that Newcastle will return to their usual 4-3-3 formation, creating an opening in midfield.
There are three possible candidates to fill Joelinton’s role: Sean Longstaff, Lewis Miley, and Joe Willock.
Of these, Willock seems the most likely to take the spot over the next few weeks, presenting a major opportunity for the £25million midfielder as players start to fight for a place in the Carabao Cup final starting XI.
Willock has been struggling with consistency recently, despite showing glimpses of quality earlier in the season. This period in the starting lineup could be just what he needs to rediscover his best form—and at the perfect time. If he takes his chance and performs well, he could find himself in the starting XI at Wembley next month.
£25m star could now get an incredible Newcastle United opportunity after Eddie Howe update – opinion
