Eddie Howe is sweating on Bruno Guimaraes being fit for Sunday’s visit of Aston Villa, given Newcastle have never won a Premier League game without him.
In four years on Tyneside, the Brazilian has not featured in 10 top-flight matches and, on each occasion, the team have failed to win, drawing six and losing four.
Guimaraes suffered an ankle injury during Wednesday’s 3-0 win over PSV in the Champions League and faces a race against time to make the squad this weekend.
Howe was reminded that he has never won a Premier League game in his absence, and said: ‘I wondered how long it would be before that one came up – thanks for that!
‘In terms of working out how to play without him, he is just a very, very talented footballer. A very creative footballer. Regardless of where he plays, he has the ability to change games.
‘If we’re without him in any game, you have to come up with a solution, you have to come up with an alternative way of selecting your team or a way of playing. We’ll try and figure out all avenues if he isn’t available, but we hope he can make it.’
Eddie Howe sweating on his captain Bruno Guimaraes being fit for Sunday’s visit of Aston Villa
The Brazilian suffered an ankle injury during Wednesday’s Champions League win over PSV
Of his captain’s chances of making the game, Howe said: ‘We hope it’s not serious. The extent of the injury is still unknown, but he was reasonably positive after the game.
‘Speaking to him again, he’s the guy that will never rule anything out, so we’re going to give him every chance for this weekend. Let’s wait and see.’
Howe, who could bring in Lewis Miley if Guimaraes is unavailable, added: ‘We’ll always try and make the right decisions as we do with every player, depending on need and circumstance, to protect them long term but also to help the team if they need to play. We’ll try and get that right with Bruno.
‘He is a pivotal player. He’s been the match-winner for us so many times over the years. He’s an inspirational figure. So we need him, but of course we need him fit and available and able to perform to his best level.
‘We’ll try and make all the calculations and come up with the right decision.’
