Newcastle United’s hopes for a crucial Premier League victory were dashed in a double blow at St. James’ Park on Sunday, as a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa was compounded by a significant injury to key midfielder Joelinton.
The Brazilian, making his 250th appearance for the club, was forced off just minutes into the second half with a groin injury, plunging Eddie Howe’s already depleted squad into a deeper midfield crisis ahead of a critical UEFA Champions League encounter.
The match, which ended Villa’s 21-year wait for an away win against Newcastle, was decided by strikes from Emiliano Buendía and Ollie Watkins. However, the home side’s performance was severely hampered by the absence of captain Bruno Guimarães, who missed the game with an ankle injury sustained earlier in the week.
Newcastle’s struggles were then exacerbated when Joelinton signaled to the bench in distress in the 48th minute, receiving treatment on his left leg before being substituted by Jacob Ramsey.
Manager Eddie Howe expressed immediate concern in his post-match remarks. “He felt his groin. We don’t know how serious that is but it was a big blow to lose him when we did,” Howe stated. The injury raises serious doubts about Joelinton’s availability for Newcastle’s upcoming Champions League last-16 first-leg tie against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
The potential absence of both first-choice Brazilian midfielders presents a monumental challenge for Howe, who acknowledged the unique creative void left by Guimarães. “We missed his ability to pass forward today,” Howe said. “He is possibly the focal point for a lot of our build play… his never-say-die spirit and attitude. You lose a lot when a player like that isn’t available”.
The statistics underscore Guimarães’ irreplaceable importance. Since his full debut in March 2022, Newcastle have failed to win any of the 11 Premier League matches he has not started, drawing six and losing five.
This record continued against Villa, highlighting a persistent tactical vulnerability within the squad. The defeat leaves Newcastle in ninth position in the Premier League table with 33 points, a significant 13 points behind third-placed Villa and effectively ending their realistic ambitions for a top-four finish this campaign.
The injury to Joelinton is the latest in a series of physical setbacks for the powerful midfielder, who has been managed carefully in recent months after earlier knee and shin problems.
His departure from the pitch casts a further shadow over a squad already missing several key defenders, including Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, and Dan Burn, who was only just returning to the bench after a long absence.
As Newcastle United travels to the French capital, the club must now confront the daunting task of competing with Europe’s elite while grappling with an injury crisis at the heart of its team.
The search for an “alternative solution,” as referenced by Howe, has become not just a tactical necessity but an urgent imperative for the Magpies’ fading season.