When Miguel Almiron ended his Newcastle United goal drought against Crystal Palace last month, Joelinton was among the first to leap off the substitutes' bench.

The Brazilian, who had been taken off six minutes previously, clenched his fist in celebration and took a few steps forward towards the touchline.

Although he only had to wait three games for his first competitive goal for the Magpies, against Spurs, Joelinton knew what Almiron was experiencing as his team-mate whipped off his shirt and made a beeline for the Gallowgate End.

Joelinton put in, arguably, his best performance for the club at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - and not just because of that composed finish past Hugo Lloris, which capped a fine team move.

With his chest puffed out, Joelinton's work-rate and contributions off the ball were crucial to the Magpies leaving North London with their first win of the season after he led the defensive effort from the front.

If that was to be lift off for Newcastle's record signing, Joelinton has come right back down to earth since then, failing to score and looking like a player bereft of confidence.

While staff have been keen to remind Joelinton that he needs to get into the box more, and have advised him on how to be cuter when it comes to winning free-kicks in the opposition half, they have also been keen to reassure the No 9 that they are behind him. That he just has to keep working away.

The 23-year-old had initially been living away from his partner, Thays, and son, Neto, who are now staying with him, and the club hope that off the field stability will help him on it.

On the field, Joelinton had plenty of opportunities to end his lengthy drought against Rochdale and rarely felt the need to come deep because Newcastle had so much of the ball.

Even when the Magpies lost possession in the first half, Almiron and Yoshinori Muto were quick to lead the press to win it back. 

It got to the stage where Isaac Hayden, deployed as a centre-back in a back three, felt comfortable enough to advance forward to help his team-mates because Rochdale were pinned back in their own half.

Miguel Almiron of Newcastle United celebrates with teammate Joelinton after scoring his team's first goal during the FA Cup Third Round match between Rochdale AFC and Newcastle United

The pressure quickly paid off. Almiron broke the deadlock on 17 minutes and celebrated his confident finish in front of the away end with Joelinton. To the tune of KC and the Sunshine Band's 'Give it Up', 'Almiron! Miggy Almiron!' rang out at Spotland.

It was Almiron's second goal in four games after previously going 11 months, 26 appearances and 2,191 minutes without scoring for Newcastle. The feeling within the club and the player's camp was once he scored one, more would quickly follow and it has proved correct.

Bruce never contemplated dropping Almiron because he could see what the 25-year-old was bringing to the team without scoring. The Newcastle head coach had never seen running statistics quite like Almiron's and admired his spirit and his willingness to get on the ball.

According to Wyscout, a tool Newcastle analysts use, the Paraguayan has been involved in 149 defensive duels, intercepted the ball 68 times, made 99 recoveries and cleared the ball on 17 occasions this season.

To his credit, Almiron never let his head go down during his goal drought and, in Bruce's own words, trained every day as if it was his last. Is it any wonder Bruce remarked Newcastle would 'bray down the door' if the club found another player like Almiron?

Newcastle just did not look the same threat once Almiron went off with a groin injury at Rochdale as Bruce gave the forward his own standing ovation after he hobbled towards the touchline.

Even without scoring, Almiron showed what he could bring to the team and that is the task Joelinton has to embrace going forward.

Whatever about Joelinton's misses, what has irked a section of Newcastle fans of late is his body language and his off the ball contributions - and these are the minimum requirements expected from the club's main man.

“It is a heavy load. To play for Newcastle United is a heavy load. Full stop," Bruce said. "There is an expectation on you and it dawns on you very quickly. When you are the No 9 and then the price tag that bears much on him...he has to keep working at it.

"He is the same age as [Sean] Longstaff. He is only a kid so I'm sure there is more to come. He will learn from it, get on with it and keep trying. That’s all I can ask. Of course I believe in him - I pick him every week."