Eddie Howe has had to contend with a frankly ridiculous injury crisis at Newcastle United this season.
It’s been so bad that pundit Joe Cole has even suggested that the sheer number of absences Newcastle keep having enforced upon them cannot simply be down to bad luck.
Howe himself has admitted to making mistakes when it comes to dealing with injured players this season and while luck surely cannot be the only reason for the crisis, it doesn’t mean it’s not played a part.
Harvey Barnes, after all, suffered the kind of injury the club’s medical staff had never seen in football before only weeks into his Newcastle career.
Tino Livramento, meanwhile, has only just suffered an ankle problem Howe has described as “strange”.
Clearly, fortune has not favoured Howe and Newcastle at all this season – even if they are indeed deeper reasons as to their struggles.
Still, there has been one stroke of luck when it comes to fitness.
Bruno Guimaraes, who Newcastle have not won without since his arrival in January 2022, has only missed one game all season and that was through suspension.
He’s so far avoided a booking since January too, meaning the looming threat of a two-game ban for receiving ten of those will lift should he emerge from Saturday’s clash against Tottenham without going in the book.
Such is his importance to Howe’s side, some insight into how the manager views the Brazilian has emerged.
Why Eddie Howe is worried when watching Bruno Guimaraes play for Newcastle
According to The Athletic, Howe is constantly worried the 26-year-old will succumb to an injury problem, having had to play so many games.
Luckily – for now at least – that hasn’t proven to be the case.
If Newcastle qualify for Europe – it’s down to Bruno Guimaraes
Guimaraes has been the one constant in this otherwise wild campaign for Newcastle.
Only forwards Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Callum Wilson have scored more than him (4). Just Gordon and Kieran Trippier beat him for assists (6).
His importance to the cause simply cannot be overstated, as Newcastle’s dismal record without him would attest to.
If Newcastle get back into Europe this season, it would have been because of the Brazilian’s consistent brilliance.
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