Newcastle United have come under some criticism from the media after their latest decision and how it will impact Bruno Guimaraes.
Newcastle are set to travel to Australia at the end of the season – three days after playing Brentford – to face Tottenham in a friendly at Melbourne Cricket Ground, as well .
In a report from The Athletic, Newcastle have been heavily criticised for putting more pressure on Bruno who could be playing 63rd game of the season ahead of a major international tournament with Brazil.
Newcastle have learned nothing from this season
With the news now emerging that Sven Botman could be unavailable until 2025 at the latest after suffering an ACL injury against Manchester City, it makes this news even more outrageous.
Newcastle have suffered an unbelievable amount of injuries this season which has made Eddie Howe’s job even more stressful than it needs to be, and now they’re planning on putting even more strain on the players.
The final game of the Premier League season against Brentford could be a must-win with Newcastle still in the hunt for Europe, and they will again be asking so much from Bruno who often has to carry the midfield.
And now they want him to travel halfway around the world just three days later for what is, to him at least, a meaningless friendly right before he will be hoping to join Brazil for the Copa America this summer.
The Athletic are criticising Newcastle’s decision saying: “For Bruno Guimaraes, they would be his 63rd and 64th appearances, if he features in Newcastle’s 10 remaining Premier League fixtures and both Brazil’s friendlies against England and Spain over the next week — and he potentially has the Copa America to come in the United States starting on June 21, where he could play for his country another six times.
“With the game taking place outside the official international window, those involved in the European Championship or Copa America tournaments this summer will be expected to travel.
“On the face of it, there is plenty wrong with this. There are player-welfare concerns and even environmental ones, with campaigners questioning the length of the flights involved for such a short tour.”
Newcastle can’t afford a Bruno injury
Newcastle have managed relatively well without some key players this season who would have definitely had a big impact on games like Joe Willock, Callum Wilson, Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes.
But Bruno is the key to Newcastle’s midfield, his tenacity and technical ability are like no one else at the club and a lot of the time he is the driving force of the team.
If he was to sustain a major injury like Botman has, it’s difficult to see how Newcastle would recover from that next season with their other midfield options unable to emulate his talent.
Newcastle’s record without the 26-year-old is woeful as they are yet to actually win a game in which the Brazilian international did not take part in.
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