Newcastle’s Brazilian international Bruno Guimaraes has already played in a variety of roles during his time at the club.
That is a point he made in an interview with Globo Esporte in his native country while on international duty this week.
He said that his best position is as a box-to-box midfielder but acknowledged that versatility make him a more rounded, complete player.
“I’ve done everything here,” he laughed.
“In the first three games I played in different positions. In the first, we played with two in the middle.
“In the second, we played with two holding midfielders. Then I played as the solo anchorman. I can play all of the positions and I’m happy in them.
“But if I have to choose I prefer to be a ‘segundo volonte’ (a box-to-box). It was the role I played at Athletico Paranaense and Lyon. But I can also play as the most defensive midfielder.
“Versatility is a big plus. Especially if there are only 23 players in the squad. Playing more than one position is very important.
“I prefer to play as a ‘segundo volonte’, but I can play as a number ten and a holding midfielder. But the player who performs more than one function in modern football is always a little step ahead; more complete.”
The role that Bruno would like to play is one where he starts from deep and does his defensive work but also has freedom to bomb on and get forward.
It will be interesting to see how Eddie Howe sets up his midfield, because Joelinton and Joe Willock also like bursting forward into space.
If Newcastle go start to realise their ambitions, they will be fighting on multiple fronts and rotating their squad more often, which means that versatility and adaptability will become even more important.
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