Eddie Howe: Joelinton unlikely to feature for Newcastle before end of season

The 28-year-old Brazilian returned to the club's training ground this week after spending a week abroad for consultations and recovery.

Joelinton initially sustained the injury in February and had missed the Magpies' last two fixtures - against Ipswich Town and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Although he made a brief return to action in March and was managing the injury, hopes of a full comeback were dashed after he experienced significant discomfort just 24 hours before the Ipswich match.

Following the flare-up, the player sought advice from a medical specialist. The recommendation was clear: Joelinton should sit out the rest of the 2024/25 season to avoid aggravating the injury further.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe acknowledged the advice and admitted it is "likely" the midfielder will not feature again this term, though he stopped short of ruling out a possible return entirely.

"I saw Joe yesterday [Thursday] for the first time in a while. He'd been away getting treatment and returned to Brazil briefly, but he's been back in Barcelona for another injection," said Howe.

"I think he's feeling pretty good. Whether we see him before the end of the season, I'm not sure.

"The likelihood is it will be difficult [to get him back before the end of the season], I think, but with Joe, you'd never rule him out.

"I think he's so motivated to try and come back, but a bit of discomfort in his knee last week just before the game so he sought a specialist opinion. That opinion was nothing serious, but he needed a period of rest.

"He's now in Brazil, so we'll wait and see if we can get him back before the end of the season. But the likelihood is probably not."