Newcastle United faced a disappointing 2-0 defeat to West Ham United on Monday at St James’ Park, a match that saw both Joe Willock and Bruno Guimaraes forced off the field due to injury concerns. Their premature exits left fans and pundits alike wondering if they would be available for the crucial away trip to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace this weekend. However, manager Eddie Howe has since provided an encouraging update on their recovery, stating that both players could be back in action sooner than expected.
Howe expressed cautious optimism about their potential return, saying, “They have a chance to play. The injuries are not serious, so we’ll make a final decision on Friday.” Despite the severity of their injuries not being serious, both Willock and Guimaraes are still being closely monitored ahead of the weekend fixture. Willock’s injury occurred after he attempted to block a shot and took a painful blow just above his ankle, causing temporary numbness. Fortunately, the midfielder appears to have recovered quickly, with Howe noting his rapid improvement.
As for Guimaraes, Howe emphasized the mental strength of the Brazilian international, who has been under significant pressure lately. “Mentally, Bruno has been really strong,” Howe remarked. “He’s had a lot to cope with, and you can never underestimate the impact of playing for a country like Brazil – it’s intense pressure for him, and there’s a lot of travel involved.” The manager further explained how the demands of playing for Brazil, followed by a leadership role at Newcastle as the team’s captain, have only motivated Guimaraes more. “He’s embraced that responsibility and the challenge,” Howe added.
One of the key concerns for Howe and Newcastle fans alike is the club’s recent record without Guimaraes in the lineup. Since joining the club in January 2022 from Lyon for a reported £40 million, Newcastle has not won a Premier League match without their star midfielder. In fact, across the seven league games that Guimaraes has missed, the team has failed to secure a win, drawing four and losing three. This statistic underlines just how integral the Brazilian is to the team’s success, and the manager acknowledged that the Magpies have struggled to perform without him.
Reflecting on the statistics, Howe responded to the growing concern, quipping, “That’s not a great stat, is it? Hopefully, we don’t have to figure that out [how to play without him]. I don’t know, because he’s in the team, so let’s keep him there.” His comments further fuel speculation that Guimaraes is likely to be fit enough to feature against Crystal Palace, easing fears that the club could face another challenging match without their influential midfielder.
In other midfield news, young Lewis Miley, another of Newcastle’s promising talents, is set to feature for the Under-21s against Crystal Palace Under-21s at Whitley Park on Friday night. This means that Miley will not be part of the first-team squad for the trip to Selhurst Park unless both Willock and Guimaraes are unable to recover in time. However, with Howe’s positive update on the duo’s fitness, it seems likely that the experienced midfielders will be ready to take on Palace, providing a much-needed boost for the team.
With the international break behind them and key players on the mend, Newcastle fans will be eagerly awaiting the weekend’s match, hoping that their midfield duo can return to help the team bounce back from their recent loss.