Despite being only 17 days away from the season opener against West Ham, there has been no sign of Yoshinori Muto and Joelinton in pre-season – leaving Steve Bruce to prepare for the season with only one recognised striker in Andy Carroll.
Both Muto and the Brazilian have been ‘missing’ from the York training camp and the club are ‘not commenting’ on their absence, according to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail.
Hope also claimed that the Japanese International’s time at the club may be coming to an end, with sources close to the striker revealing our efforts to sell him this summer:
“The club are not commenting on the absences of Joelinton and Yoshinori Muto”
“Sources close to Japan striker Muto say the club have been trying to move him on and his future would appear to be away from St James’ Park.”
Muto has never really been given a chance at the club and will now likely depart after two years and just 27 appearances – if we can find a buyer or club who’ll have him on loan, that is.
As for Joelinton, the situation is slightly more unclear.
There have been no updates on his situation from anyone inside or outside the club – and he will now have less than two weeks to prepare for the season if/when he returns.
Is it a quarantine issue? Is he just being given extra time to visit family in Brazil? Or is there something up that we don’t know about?
Either way, let’s hope that the forward comes back soon and can prepare as efficiently as possible for the new season – even with the now worrying time constraint.
If Steve Bruce is unable to land a striker before the window closes, with Gayle injured and Muto on his way out – the onus will once again solely be on the number-nine in front of goal.
Follow us on Twitter (@NUFCBlogcouk) / Follow us on Facebook HERE
When it comes to strikers this club never learns. We sign players who are not good enough or who are injury prone. Pay carrots and you get donkeys.
We’ve had one decent quality striker, Rondon, and look how we treated him.
Club is run by idiots.
taken4mugs(Quote)
disappears most games so whats new
roy parkinson(Quote)
Best for the club if he doesn’t come back but he owes us £40m minus 20 quid for his goals. Absolute garbage and not a striker
Shaun(Quote)