REVEALED: JOELINTON’S PRIVATE THOUGHTS ON THE "FRUSTRATING" INFRASTRUCTURE DELAYS AT NEWCASTLE UNITED
Joelinton admits Newcastle United needs better facilities to become the best club in the world as stadium plans stall for 2026.
Joelinton admits Newcastle United needs some work behind the scenes to reach its goal of being the best club in the world. But the midfielder from Brazil is still sure the Magpies are moving in the right direction, even though stadium plans have stopped.
Newcastle was supposed to decide on the future of St. James’ Park in 2025. For over a year, there were talks about either fixing up the current stadium or building a brand new one somewhere else in the city.
But, new CEO David Hopkinson told fans at the beginning of last month that they would be staying at St. James’ in pretty much its current state for years to come, putting off any stadium changes.
Hopkinson shared that while they're still working on the training ground, the current improvements won't make it a ten-out-of-ten facility.
Eddie Howe said that the stadium and training ground situation is in limbo at the moment. This doesn't line up with Hopkinson's goal of being in the conversation to be the best club in the world.
Joelinton agrees with the CEO's big plans for the future. He knows that the lack of progress off the field isn't ideal, but he's confident that Newcastle is still on the right track and getting better.
“The team wants to be one of the best in the world,” Joelinton said after Newcastle beat Burnley 3-1 on Tuesday night. To do that, you have to be the best in every way, with the training ground, with everything to help the players be their best on the field.
“But I do think the club is going in the right direction. It is not easy to build something like that overnight.
“The club has gotten a lot better since I got here. It is going in the right direction; I just hope that we can be the best in the world with everything, the training ground and the stadium.”
“But I love St. James' Park the way it is. And I hope I can play more games there too.”
On the field, Newcastle moved back into the top half of the Premier League table after their win at Turf Moor.
The Magpies have had an up-and-down season so far. Their away games haven't been great. But Howe mentioned earlier this week that they are in a good spot in the Premier League, in a playoff spot in the Champions League, and have a two-game Carabao Cup semi-final coming up against Manchester City.
It won't take much to turn this season around, and Joelinton believes that he and his teammates are ready to make it happen.
“Every game has to be a fight now,” said Joelinton. “That has to be how we think going into 2026. Every game is like a final, and you have to give it your all. We will fight for every ball, for every game, and hopefully win more games.”
Joelinton played at Burnley for the first time since getting a groin injury in the Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen. He's happy to be back before the home games this week against Crystal Palace and Leeds United.
“It has been frustrating to be away from the team and only be on the bench and not be able to play in the important games we've had,” he said. “I am happy to be back now. I know I am important to the team.
“I know when I am at my best, I can help the team. I hope I can get back to my best and play my best football to help the team. I was very happy to get my first goal after one year in the Premier League, to score in such an important game.
“We know we have been inconsistent this season, but I believe in the squad and believe in everyone here. I think we have a great team and great people, and I think we can turn this season around and be successful.”
EDDIE HOWE CONFIRMS NEWCASTLE LINEUP SHIFTS ARE PART OF A MAJOR FUTURE STRATEGY
Eddie Howe confirms he is picking Newcastle lineups with next season in mind, trialling players like Ramsey and Woltemade early.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe isn’t pretending he’s already thinking about next season. People have been saying Kieran Trippier is close to triggering a payment if he plays more games, so that might influence whether he features again before the season ends. But Howe brushed that off and said he’s making his decisions purely for football reasons.
Talking to reporters at the City Ground about why Anthony Gordon was missing, Howe admitted he’s picking his lineup with the future in mind. Later, in his press conference, he went into more detail about focusing on what comes next at St James’ Park.
"We’re definitely looking ahead," Howe said. "You can see it in some of the choices I’m making with the team. I want to get a look at some players and see how they might grow into the squad."
One of those players is Jacob Ramsey, who came off the bench, set up Harvey Barnes with a great pass, and really changed the game. "I thought Jacob Ramsey was brilliant when he came on against Forest. He really made a difference, and so did Harvey. It’s good to see players taking their chances," Howe said.
He added, "We have to be thinking about the future now and what the team’s going to look like next year. That’s our responsibility at this point."
Before the match, Howe surprised a lot of fans by starting Lewis Hall at right-back, Nick Woltemade in midfield, and pushing Joelinton further forward than usual. Again, Howe explained he wants to see what players can do in different positions.
"It wasn’t some huge change from Brighton; we kept the same shape," Howe said. "But for Nick, this was only one of a few times he’s started in that role for us. He played alongside Will, and they haven’t had much time together either.
"There were positives for Nick, but he wasn’t involved as much as we wanted in the first half. We still need to see his best on the ball. In the second half, though, I thought we got better as a team. We attacked more and looked like a real threat as the match wore on."
MAGPIES EYE £1M BARGAIN TIAGO GABRIEL TO SOLVE GROWING DEFENSIVE INJURY CRISIS
Newcastle are leading the race against Juventus for Tiago Gabriel, the 21-year-old Serie A defensive sensation.
Newcastle United appear to be keeping an eye on Lecce’s young defender Tiago Gabriel as they consider potential options for the summer transfer window.
With Fabian Schar’s contract due to expire at the end of June, the Magpies are preparing for the possibility of his departure. Although an extension is still on the table, Schar has been sidelined since early January because of an ankle injury and doesn't seem close to making a comeback.
At 21, Gabriel has featured 36 times across all competitions this season for Lecce, who are currently four points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. Newcastle’s recruitment team is among those following his development, seemingly interested in exploring a move once the transfer window opens.
Back in December, reports surfaced that both West Ham and Juventus were also tracking Gabriel’s progress. The young defender, who came through Sporting CP’s academy, has had a strong season and will enter the final year of his contract this summer.
Gabriel transferred to Lecce last January for slightly over £1 million, moving from Portuguese club Estrela Amadora. Should he leave this summer, a significantly higher fee might be expected, reflecting his rise in form.
Before joining Estrela Amadora, Gabriel had been part of Setúbal's academy after leaving Sporting in 2020. His performances have earned him regular appearances for Portugal’s Under-21 side, and senior international opportunities may not be far off.
A switch to the Premier League could potentially boost his profile substantially, but he will likely weigh his options with some care.
According to O Jogo, Newcastle continue to monitor his situation keenly as interest around the defender grows.
Regarding Fabian Schar’s future, things remain uncertain even with just weeks left on his current deal. While Kieran Trippier has been publicly confirmed to be leaving upon contract expiration, no similar announcement has come for Schar.
Last week, Howe commented on the defender’s status, noting that no definitive decision has been made yet. He emphasised Schar’s value to the team, pointing out his unique role as a ball-playing defender and his versatility in various defensive setups.
Schar’s influence on the pitch and experience are clearly appreciated, and the club hopes he can regain full fitness before the season concludes. As for any new contract talks, Howe suggested it’s a matter of waiting to see how things unfold.
