Joelinton opens up on injury nightmare, preparing for new season, Anthony Elanga and World Cup aspirations | OneFootball

Joelinton was a big miss late last season.

Having played a key role in Newcastle United winning the Carabao Cup and getting in a great position to qualify for the Champions League, the decision made that an ongoing knee injury had to be rested.

The rest of the squad would need to get over the Champions League finishing line without him.

In order for Joelinton to avoid something really bad potentially happening with that knee, plus of course the hope that short-term pain of doing without him late last season, would mean long-term gain of him hopefully getting himself in the best possible shape to fingers crossed, be available AND fully fit for the 2025/26 season.

The Newcastle United squad just about managed to get over that Champions League qualifying line without the Brazil international.

Now the second part of the equation is looking very promising.

Saturday saw the first [behind closed doors] friendly of the season, Joelinton taking part and scoring in a 4-0 win over Carlisle United.

Great to see and Joelinton now building on Saturday’s positive return to action, with this very positive overview from the player himself, as he prepares to hit the 2025/26 season running with the rest of his Newcastle United teammates.

Joelinton speaking to official Newcastle United media having missed the end of last season with a knee injury – 13 July 2025:

“I feel good now.

“I have had a long time to recover.

“The start of it was very difficult as, personally, I was very frustrated about the injury at the end of the season.

“There was a lot of important games and I could have been with the team.

“I was very sad but I knew I had to step out and recover because of my knee as I couldn’t help the team in the way I wanted. It was the best decision and I had enough time to recover and come back, starting with the guys in pre-season.

“My knee is good, I feel fully fit and happy.

“Injuries are not what you want but they can happen in football sometimes and you just have to deal with them and do everything you can to be fit. I now hope to have a season without injuries.”

Newcastle United pre-season begins:

“I am happy to be back with the lads and enjoy being back at work for, hopefully, a great season ahead. It’s great to see everyone again; my teammates, the coaching staff and physios.

“We have a really good group here. I feel like it’s a family as we are friends and it’s very good to be with them again.

“There’s a few of the players back but we will all be together next week and making sure we work hard every day to get ready for the first [Premier League] game of the season.”

Joelinton on new signing Anthony Elanga:

“He’s a really good player with a lot of qualities.

“He’s very fast, can score or assist and has been tough to play against, so I’m happy he’s now joined us!

“He will be very welcomed into the group and we will do everything to make sure he feels at home and comfortable so he can do what he has been doing for Nottingham Forest.

“I’m very happy he has signed and I wish him all the best.”

Brazil have now qualified for the 2026 World Cup finals, an ambition to be part of it for Joelinton?

“For me, the most important thing is Newcastle, with the games we have here and the competitions we have to play, especially being back in the Champions League.

“We have a lot of big matches and I want to be ready for everything. Being in the Brazil national team would be a result of what I’m doing here.

“Of course, I have the World Cup in my mind and I want to be in the squad next year but I know I need to work hard for my club. If I have the chance to go and represent my country, I would be very proud.”

Joelinton on the pre-season friendlies:

“I’m really looking forward to pre-season, playing a lot of good games to get minutes in the legs.

“Football also gives us the opportunity to visit different countries.

“I’ve never been to Singapore or South Korea so it will be the first time and I’m excited for it, seeing new cultures and learning things. We’ll be playing in Suwon, where the Brazil national team played in the [2002] World Cup so I can’t wait.

“Physically, pre-season is about getting back to work and into that routine we have.