Newcastle United take on Union Saint-Gilloise at Anderlecht’s Lotto Park in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Newcastle United have come a long way in a relatively short space of time - it’s easy to forget that.

While Eddie Howe’s Magpies struggle to gain a foothold on the Champions League and need lift off in the Premier League, too, it’s not all that long ago things were very different on Tyneside. And midfielder Joelinton made sure everyone knows about it.

With all the talk of Champions League points the last two words you’d expect to hear in the bowels of Anderlecht’s Lotto Park was Steve Bruce. Yes, former manager Bruce was the talk of the press room after Joelinton’s mention.

Speaking ahead of the Magpies’ must-not-lose clash with Union Saint-Gilloise, Joelinton referenced his early time at the club - and Bruce - when assessing where things are at right now at NUFC. And the unexpected turn brought about a round of laughter among the gathered press.

Steve Bruce gets Champions League mention

Joelinton said: “I remember my last press conference was with Steve Bruce when I arrived here. But it's nice to see the way the club is going. The difficult times and the club is growing. And yes, and I'm really happy to be part of the club, part of the success we had in the past few seasons and we want more, the club wants more and I think we are on the right way.”

‘Put our names in the history of NUFC’

The Brazilian No.8 has come a long way in that time, too. From failed striker to combative midfielder and cult hero.

And the love is reciprocated, with Joelinton admitting he wants to continue writing his name in the NUFC history books.

“When I joined the club, I wanted to have success,” he said. “In the start, things didn't go in the way I wanted. But this club has a great fan base, a great city and the fans deserve a lot. The moment they are living now, and we as a team, we want to to give success to Newcastle and put our names in the the history of the club.”

Joelinton scored during Newcastle’s last Champions League campaign - and is loving life in the competition.

“I don't know if I dreamed to play in the competition, but my dream was always to be a footballer,” he said. “Then when you grow up, you you have other dreams. But my first reach, my biggest dream was to be a footballer and after that I want to to be in Europe. I want to play the the best competitions and the Champions League are the best and I'm really very happy to be here today, to be able to play the competition and yes, very happy.

“I think we have big goals every season. This season again we have big goals and we we want to go as far as possible and I hope as a club we can do that.