Injuries have robbed Newcastle United of much consistency this season.
While blaming absences and the subsequent fatigue relying on so few players causes as the only reasons for Newcastle’s relative malaise this time around feels somewhat lazy, it clearly has not helped.
Indeed, Eddie Howe is without pretty much a first-choice eleven due to various ailments as things stand.
The sheer number of absences Howe has had to contend with this season does perhaps explain the inconsistent nature of it, particularly for a team who are dealing with raised expectations for the first time in years.
Still, there has been one constant presence throughout it.
Bruno Guimaraes, after all, was quite keen to point out that he’s only missed seven of the 107 games Newcastle have played since his arrival after scoring against Fulham on Saturday.
He’s been the subject of deserved praise from the likes of Gary Lineker, while Dan Burn has called for owners PIF to keep a hold of him long-term despite reported interest from Paris Saint-Germain.
Excellent again on the weekend, the praise has continued.
Garth Crooks names the player Newcastle simply cannot do without right now
Writing in his column for BBC Sport and summing up the weekend’s action, pundit Garth Crooks talked of the midfielder’s importance at Newcastle.
“He’s been a revelation for the team since he arrived at St James’ Park,” he wrote.
“The fans love him and his team can’t do without him.”
Newcastle are too reliant on Bruno Guimaraes
Of the seven games Guimaraes has missed since his arrival, Newcastle have not won a single one of them.
The 26-year-old ranks within the squad’s top five for goals (4) and assists (5). Looking at the numbers more deeply, he’s also within the top three for key passes (1.6, via WhoScored), dribbles (1.9) and tackles (2.3) per game.
While its only natural that a team would rely heavily on arguably their standout player, Newcastle will have to find a way of operating without him, whether he stays or not.
They cannot be that reliant on just one player going forward.
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