Newcastle United vice-captain Joelinton has revealed the key quality he learned from former team-mate Bruno Guimaraes as he takes on a leadership role this season. The Brazil international made his first start of the campaign after missing the opening months through injury, a difficult spell following his appointment as vice-captain on the eve of the new season.
Learning from Guimaraes
Speaking to Chronicle Live, Joelinton said Guimaraes' best quality was his constant presence and fighting spirit. "He had a lot of qualities. His best quality was always to be there, always present in the moment, always fighting till the end. That's what I'm trying to do," he said.
Joelinton also acknowledged other leaders he has learned from, including Kieran Trippier and current captain Dan Burn. "We had other leaders too, great guys like Kieran Trippier in the past, we have Dan Burn, a great leader, and you try to learn something from everyone," he added.
Leadership Role and Return
The 30-year-old, in his eighth season at St James' Park, stressed the importance of being himself. "The most important thing is just be myself and do the things that I always have done. It's not different for me," he said, noting the only difference on Saturday was wearing the armband.
Joelinton described the season as a challenge, dealing with a similar injury problem to last season. "It's been difficult for me. New season, but I have a similar problem that I had last season and before, so it's been a challenge," he said. "I always keep going and just glad to be back now and I hope I can improve."
Burn's Return and Crystal Palace Clash
Dan Burn also missed the first two months through injury but returned to the squad ahead of defeats to Coventry City and Aston Villa. Joelinton hopes the 34-year-old will be ready for Sunday's trip to Crystal Palace, saying, "To have him back is a great lift for everybody. He's a great leader, great player, and he's so important for the team."
Newcastle made a decent start with eight points from five matches and advanced to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, but back-to-back 4-1 defeats have raised concerns. Joelinton acknowledged the importance of the Palace game, saying, "Every game is a must-win. We are competitors, we want to win every game." He added, "Now it's time to stick together and stay positive and work hard. We hope to have a better performance at the weekend."
