Newcastle United star Joelinton has lifted the lid on his early turmoil as the club's marquee summer signing back in 2019.

Back then the Brazilian star was marketed as a number 9 after being handed the legendary shirt number as pundits spoke about the £40million signing attempting to emulate the likes of Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand and Andy Cole. However, it became obvious just a few games into his Toon career that Joelinton was not an out and out centre-forward.

Speaking to Newcastle legend Rob Lee on the Adopted Geordies podcast, Joelinton admits he just had to go with it after a high profile arrival from Bundesliga club Hoffenheim five years ago.

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Joelinton said: "I have been here five and a half years and I have had some difficult times here. To still be here now and have the excitement and helping take the club back where it deserves to be is great.

"We just need to keep pushing and put the club as high as we can. I came here as a striker, I played my Academy time as a striker, and I would never have believed to be a midfielder today! But that is what happened.

"I never felt like I was a number nine, but I played in Brazil and in Germany there. In Germany I played as a second striker. Because of my size people thought maybe I was a number 9. Before I played in midfield but from there I played number nine, I played there until Eddie came and that changed everything."

In an in-depth interview, Lee admits that he too was fielded as a striker earlier in his career before dropping back to midfield. In Joelinton's case it was Eddie Howe who transformed the 28-year-old into the engine room with such good effect he ended winning a call-up to the Brazil international squad!

Joelinton said: "It happened because from the first day, he saw something different in me. He saw something different in me and that I could do other things for the team. I started to play there in the game against Norwich, did well and he kept putting me there. It is easier than playing with your back to goal. People kicked me, now I kick people!"

Howe is hoping that Joelinton will be back from a knee injury in good time for the Carabao Cup final next month. But admits he could not have asked for more from the midfield enforcer since changing his role.

He said: "We stumbled upon a positional change which I think elevated his [Joelinton] confidence levels. Ciaran [Clark] was sent off against Norwich and I think we went to a 4-3-2 and through needs he played in midfield in this game and was everything that he is now. He was everywhere, covered every blade of grass, he was outstanding. From that day he’s remained in that position. He’s so reliable – wherever you put him, you know he’s going to give his best."