Newcastle’s progress from the play-off round is all-but-guaranteed after they thrashed Qarabag 6-1 in Baku last week.
Tomorrow’s decider at St James’ Park should be a formality, with Eddie Howe set to make a number of changes to his starting side, sending the Magpies through the last 16, where they will be drawn against either Barcelona or Chelsea.
“We first need to win the game on Tuesday,” said Joelinton, who could well be one of the starters tomorrow, having been a second-half substitute in Saturday night’s Premier League defeat at Manchester City.
“But, if we qualify, it’s hard to pick between such strong teams – maybe I’d prefer to face Barcelona as I’ve never played at Camp Nou.”
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Joelinton has been easing his way back into action in the last couple of weeks after completing his recovery from the latest recurrence of a long-standing muscular injury.
It has been a frustrating campaign for the Brazilian on the injury front, and he is now hoping to have a clear run through to the end of the season.
“It’s been a stop-and-go season for me with all the injuries on my adductor muscle,” he said. “I’m happy to be back, especially with the team already missing Bruno [Guimaraes].
“I’m still not at my best, but hopefully I can help the team and also try a stop in the World Cup with Brazil.”
Guimaraes is currently back in Brazil recovering from a knee injury that is set to keep him on the sidelines for another couple of months.
The Newcastle skipper posted pictures on social media last week showing him watching the first-leg win over Qarabag while sitting in an oxygen chamber.
“He’s [Guimaraes] in contact with us all the time, even while in Brazil,” said Joelinton. “It’s hard to be without him, he’s our captain, a very important player, a leader. But now it’s time for each one of us to step up to try to make up for it.”