Newcastle United could see the return of their captain Bruno Guimaraes after a two-month layoff due to a hamstring injury when they face Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday, as stated by manager Eddie Howe.
Guimaraes, who leads Newcastle as their top scorer this season with nine goals in the Premier League, has been eager to make a swift return, according to Howe’s comments to reporters on Friday.
“The medical team are trying to hold him back… I say hold him back, but there’s always this pull because the player is keen to get out there, and I truly admire that in Bruno,” the manager remarked.
“I’ll make a choice based on what I observe in training today, but there is a possibility.”
The Brazilian midfielder had a significant impact during his country’s World Cup qualifying campaign, but his injury kept him sidelined for this year’s friendlies against France and Croatia in the lead-up to the tournament commencing in June.
Nevertheless, the 28-year-old’s impressive form prior to his setback has ignited media speculation regarding a possible transfer to Real Madrid or Manchester United during the off-season.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s England forward Anthony Gordon, who has netted 10 times in the Champions League this season, has also been the subject of interest from clubs such as Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and Arsenal.
Howe, however, expressed his desire for players to remain fully dedicated to the club and its future amid the transfer chatter surrounding them.
“The primary factor I seek is commitment to training… I won’t field a player unless I believe they are fully dedicated to the club and its future. I’m not specifically referring to Anthony here, but rather in general,” he explained.
“When players are high profile, like those we have here, they frequently feature in the media for various reasons.
“That comes with the territory. You need to adapt and learn to navigate it, and strive to perform at your best despite the surrounding noise.
“I don’t believe you reach this level without the capability to do so. I don’t think any player can cite that as an excuse for lower performances. The lads amongst ourselves certainly aren’t.”
Compiled by SportArena.au
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