Potential bad news for Joelinton as £51m midfielder cleared to play for Brazil in Copa America

After finally receiving a call-up to the Brazil national side last year Newcastle United midfielder Joelinton will have been devastated to have been left out of the Copa America squad.

Joelinton has been transformed under Eddie Howe after a career-changing moment against Norwich when defender Ciaran Clark was sent off early in the game and Howe took the initiative to move Joelinton into a deeper role.

It was an odd move at the time but it spawned one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the Premier League, and the 27-year-old has never looked back, going from strength to strength.

His partnership and friendship with Bruno Guimaraes has only helped to add to his amazing transformation, and it was little surprise when J7 was called up to represent his country last year.

Getty Images/West Ham United

Joelinton's surgery cost him a place in the Brazil squad

Unfortunately, this season saw Joelinton require surgery on a groin problem which made him miss out on a huge chunk of the season, only coming back to fitness for the last few games of the season.

That injury and late return to fitness seemed to have cost him his place in the Brazil squad for the upcoming Copa America.

However, there was a faint glimmer of hope as West Ham's £51million Brazilian Lucas Paqueta became embroiled in a match-fixing scandal after an inquest by The FA.

Lucas Paqueta has been cleared to play for Brazil

Unfortunately for Joelinton, though, The Telegraph are reporting that Paqueta has been cleared to play in the tournament which means he will keep his spot in the squad.

Whether or not Joelinton would have been next in line to take his place had he been banned, we're not sure, but it's always nice to have that hope.

We're sure Joey will work his way back into the national side at some point, but it's a shame he has to miss out on the tournament this summer. However, it's good news for Newcastle as they get to keep an eye on his injury situation over the summer.