Newcastle United could be facing a major setback ahead of their Premier League clash against Brighton on Saturday afternoon...

What's the story?

Eddie Howe has a number of injury concerns to deal with ahead of yet another crunch clash in the top-flight, and it appears he will be sweating over the fitness of Joelinton.

In an injury round-up done by The Shields Gazette, they revealed: "The in-form Brazilian has been nursing a groin issue for a while. He went down at Brentford to receive treatment but managed to complete the game. He is expected to start on Saturday, though one to keep an eye on."

Fans will be worried

While the Gazette claim Joelinton is expected to start against the Seagulls, the fact he's been dealing with this issue in recent weeks and is now "one to keep an eye on" ahead of the weekend makes for very worrying reading for Magpies fans.

The big Brazilian has transformed his St James' Park career thanks to a shrewd tactical tweak from Howe, moving much deeper into midfield and seeing him wreak havoc as an all-action dynamo.

And, former Newcastle man Lee Clark has raved about his remarkable improvement, saying: "For me it is no coincidence that Joelinton got on the scoresheet because he's probably the one individual who has epitomised the change in the team and in the club. The change and impact Eddie Howe and his team have had on Joelinton has been amazing.

"His turnaround in form has run alongside the transformation in fortunes for the team really. To be fair to him even in the early part of Eddie's tenure when he was still trying to put his ideas across and get the players he wanted in the right positions you could see the improvement in Joelinton."

It's exactly why both Howe and the club's fans will be desperately hoping everything is fine with Joelinton before the weekend game against Brighton.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have an exciting academy star on their hands...