It was put to Steve Bruce ahead of Tuesday's FA Cup tie at West Brom that Joelinton may not score another Premier League goal this season yet could still emerge as a Cup hero.
The Newcastle boss, skilfully, replied: 'Your words, not mine.' To welcome such a scenario would have been asking for trouble, and Bruce knew it.
For £40million club-record signings are not brought in to nick the odd Cup goal against lower-league opponents.
But, over the course of six months, that is all Joelinton has to his name - the fourth goal in a 4-1 victory over League One Rochdale and another in a 3-2 win at Oxford, also of the third tier.