Steve Bruce revealed Joelinton played through the pain barrier as Newcastle's injury crisis deepened at Wolves.
The Newcastle manager admitted the £40million striker would normally have been replaced after suffering a groin problem before half-time.
Joelinton continued, however, given the squad is down to its bare bones with up to 13 players struggling. Paul Dummett and Dwight Gayle had both already hobbled off with hamstring injuries.
'Jo should've come off,' Bruce said. 'He wanted to stay on I was thinking of taking him off but it'd leave us with no subs.