Newcastle United got back to winning ways on Saturday night.
While European qualification through the Premier League is looking difficult for Newcastle right now, Eddie Howe’s side are still capable of it.
In order to do it, however, they need their big players performing.
Luckily, that’s exactly what they got from Bruno Guimaraes.
The £40m star scored two brilliant goals as Newcastle managed a 3-2 win away at Nottingham Forest and later stressed he was happy at the club despite links with a move away.
After the game, he provided some more interesting insight.
Bruno Guimaraes injury news: Newcastle latest
Speaking to the club’s official media channel, Guimaraes confirmed he almost missed the game at the City Ground due to illness.
“Today was very special for me because this week I’ve been sick so I was not 100% to play the game but I could play and, yeah, scored two goals to help the team.”
Bruno Guimaraes: Newcastle need star – badly
Newcastle are still yet to win a Premier League game Guimaraes has missed since he signed for the club in January 2022.
While, in an ideal world, Howe would be able to find a way around having such a reliance on the player, it cannot be ignored.
If Newcastle are going to make a late run for European qualification in at least some capacity, they need Guimaraes firing on all cylinders. The looming threat of a ban due to ten yellow cards (he’s currently on nine) is certainly concerning.
Whether he operates in the deeper role he’s done for much of the last two years or plays further forward like on Saturday, the team need Guimaraes at his very best.
He could be the player to lead them back into Europe, after all.
If Guimaraes plays well, Newcastle have a much better chance of achieving their objectives.
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