Newcastle United picked up a big 3-0 win over Ipswich Town, but it came with fresh concerns on the injury front.

The Magpies were forced to make a change to their regular starting XI after Joelinton missed out due to a knee issue that has been troubling him for weeks.

The Brazilian first picked up the injury during Newcastle’s 2-1 defeat to Fulham back in February.

That problem kept him sidelined for five matches before he returned for the FA Cup fifth-round loss to Brighton. Since then, Joelinton had been pushing through the discomfort, playing 10 consecutive games for club and country.

However, ahead of the Ipswich clash, the midfielder began to feel more pain.

Although he trained during the week, he reported “little bits of pain and discomfort” and was ultimately not risked. Joe Willock stepped into the starting XI in his place, helping Newcastle cruise to an important victory.

Injury Problems Piling Up at The Wrong Time

Joelinton’s absence comes at a tough moment, with only four games left in the season and Newcastle still battling for European qualification. Along with Joelinton, Matt Targett also missed the Ipswich game due to injury, adding to the growing list of concerns for Eddie Howe.

With such little time remaining, there are fears Joelinton could miss the rest of the campaign. Newcastle will now be hoping for positive news from the specialist consultation, but they may have to plan for the run-in without one of their most important players.

The Magpies have shown they can adapt, but with the Champions League race so tight, losing key figures now could prove costly.