Newcastle United are sweating on the fitness of captain Bruno Guimarães after the Brazilian midfielder suffered a concerning ankle injury during Wednesday’s 3-0 Champions League victory over PSV Eindhoven.
The Injury: “It’s a Worry”
The incident occurred just before half-time at St James’ Park. Guimarães, known for his resilience, was forced to withdraw during stoppage time after landing awkwardly while contesting a header. The midfielder was visibly distressed, removing his boot on the pitch before being replaced by 19-year-old Lewis Miley.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe expressed his concern post-match:
“He’s a little bit sore and there’s some swelling around the ankle. Bruno is the type of player who never wants to come off, so the fact that he had to is a worry for us. We hope it’s not serious, but it’s difficult to know at this stage.”
Impact on the Brazil National Team
The injury comes at a delicate time for Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil. The Seleção are scheduled to face France (March 26) and Croatia (March 31) in high-profile friendlies.
As a regular starter under Ancelotti, Bruno’s potential absence would be a significant blow. If he fails to recover, Ancelotti may look to players like André (Wolves), João Gomes, or even Newcastle teammate Joelinton to fill the void in the starting XI.
Newcastle 3-0 PSV: Match Summary
Despite the injury, the Magpies delivered a clinical performance to secure their place in the Champions League knockout rounds for the first time in over two decades.
- 8’: Yoane Wissa opened the scoring after a high press forced an error from PSV keeper Matej Kovar.
- 30’: Anthony Gordon doubled the lead, tapping in an unselfish pass from Wissa.
- 65’: Harvey Barnes sealed the win with a brilliant solo effort, skipping past two defenders to fire home.
The victory lifts Newcastle to 7th place in the Champions League table, setting up a massive final league phase clash against Paris Saint-Germain next week.
Ronald Mike is a football writer covering the English Premier League, providing match analysis, tactical insight, and coverage of key rivalries and title races across the season.
