Joelinton isn't shy of a crunching tackle or two which is why the Newcastle United midfielder is already just two bookings away from another suspension for accumulation.
Since being dropped into midfield after failing his audition as a striker, Joelinton hasn't looked back. The Brazilian has bulked up and become the most feared box-to-box midfielder in the Premier League.
Indeed, Bromley defender, Omar Sowunmi recently nicknamed him "Thanos" after the hulking Marvel villain for his outrageous strength.
He's also an insanely passionate player and wants to do everything he can to help the team which often leads to his temper boiling over and some rash challenges.
While the Alexander Isak penalty courted the most controversy in Newcastle's 3-1 win over Southampton on Saturday, former head of the PGMOL, Keith Hackett has now told Football Insider that Joelinton was actually lucky to stay on the pitch after one reckless challenge.
Joelinton's studs collided with the ankle of Southampton's Paul Onuachu after failing to get anywhere near the ball, but referee Sam Barrott just awarded a free-kick and kept his cards in his pocket with Hackett saying Joelinton was very lucky.
“I think it’s reckless and therefore he should get a minimum yellow card. No question. It’s been missed and VAR can’t come in, because it’s a yellow card offence rather than a red.
“But again, VAR could actually say ‘I think that’s red’ and gets the referee involved. But it’s a yellow card offence, no question.”
The strange rules around what VAR can and can't get involved in certainly seems to have benefitted Newcastle here, although if we were on the other end of this type of decision, we'd obviously be fuming.
In all honesty, I don't recall the incident, but going off what Keith Hackett has said, it does sound like we've got away with one here.
That's bad news for Fulham, Arsenal and Birmingham but excellent news for us.
PL | GD | PTS | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
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23 | 35 | 56 |
2 |
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24 | 27 | 50 |
3 |
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24 | 13 | 47 |
4 |
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24 | 16 | 43 |
5 |
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24 | 13 | 41 |
6 |
![]() |
24 | 13 | 41 |
7 |
![]() |
24 | 13 | 40 |
8 |
![]() |
24 | -3 | 37 |
9 |
![]() |
24 | 4 | 36 |
10 |
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24 | -3 | 34 |
11 |
![]() |
24 | 0 | 31 |
12 |
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24 | -2 | 30 |
13 |
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24 | -6 | 29 |
14 |
![]() |
24 | 11 | 27 |
15 |
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24 | -17 | 27 |
16 |
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23 | -5 | 26 |
17 |
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24 | -18 | 19 |
18 |
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24 | -28 | 17 |
19 |
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24 | -27 | 16 |
20 |
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24 | -36 | 9 |