After picking up a 10th yellow card of the season against Man City, Joelinton will now have to serve a two-match ban and will be unavailable for the Magpies until 2nd April.
The Brazilian will be a huge miss in what will be two crucial games against Wolves and Nottingham Forest in our bid to secure European football.
This will likely result in the return of Joe Willock to the starting line-up, but with Bruno still seemingly struggling with his ankle, we will be once again left quite thin in midfield.
It highlights just how much of a poor decision it was to not only fail to sign midfield reinforcements – even on loan – but to also sell one of our only back-ups in Jonjo Shelvey.
Hopefully Willock can step up in place of the all-action 26-year-old, with the former Arsenal man in line for his first start in almost a month next weekend after managing a hamstring issue in recent weeks.
Speaking about the booking and resultant ban, Howe said: “It was probably inevitable it would come, although we’re desperately disappointed that it was today, given the two games we’ve got before the international break, that’s going to be a long absence for him.
“I thought it was a harsh booking for him and he plays on the edge, he’s a fierce competitor, I thought he played very well again today. We’re certainly going to miss him.”
