Guimaraes Injury Clouds Newcastle United Showdown With Villa

Newcastle United are bracing themselves for a pivotal Premier League clash against Aston Villa this Sunday at St James’ Park, with the fitness of their midfield maestro Bruno Guimaraes dominating headlines and fan conversations alike. The Brazilian, who limped off after 48 minutes during Newcastle’s emphatic 3-0 Champions League victory over PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday, is now the subject of intense speculation as manager Eddie Howe weighs the risk of fielding him against Villa in the midst of a daunting fixture list.

It’s not just any run of games for the Magpies. After Villa, Newcastle face Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, and Manchester City in quick succession—a formidable gauntlet for a squad already stretched by injuries. Guimaraes’s potential absence is a massive concern, as he’s been the heartbeat of Howe’s side, carrying both the team and the supporters through thick and thin. “The hope is they have a chance to rest him now. You need a fully fit Guimaraes now, not a half fit one,” Pat Nevin observed on the BBC’s Champions League Debrief.

Charlie Adam, another voice on the panel, didn’t mince words regarding the midfielder’s importance: “If he misses Villa it’s a huge blow. They couldn’t afford to lose him for six or seven weeks. He has been a real standout player for them. He’s one that carries the supporters with him in terms of getting the crowd going. To lose him for a few weeks would be a massive blow for them.”

Newcastle’s injury woes are mounting. Alongside the uncertainty over Guimaraes, the Magpies are missing key players: Kraft, Murphy, Schar, Livramento, and Lascelles are all sidelined. However, there is a glimmer of hope as Dan Burn and Osula are reportedly close to returning. BBC Radio 5 Live’s Ian Dennis pointed out, “This is a squad already stretched. Although Dan Burn is close to coming back—Eddie Howe says that’s like a new signing. Osula is also close to coming back. But they still have Kraft out, Murphy out, Schar, Livramento and Lascelles. So they certainly won’t want to be missing Guimaraes for a period of time.”

With such a depleted roster, Eddie Howe faces a selection dilemma. According to multiple reports, Howe is expected to make four changes to the starting XI for the Villa match, a necessity as much as a tactical choice. The predicted lineup sees Nick Pope—fresh off back-to-back clean sheets against Wolves and PSV—between the posts. The defensive line is likely to feature Lewis Miley, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, and Lewis Hall. Miley, just 19, has impressed wherever he’s played and may be called upon to deputise in midfield if Guimaraes is ruled out.

Midfield options are being scrutinized, with Jacob Ramsey a potential starter against his former club if Guimaraes isn’t fit. Sandro Tonali, who scored on his Newcastle debut against Villa back in 2023, is another key figure, alongside the industrious Joelinton. Up front, Anthony Elanga, Nick Woltemade, and Anthony Gordon round out a forward line that Howe hopes will trouble Villa’s defense.

Eddie Howe’s journey to the Newcastle hot seat is a story in itself. In November 2021, he was the second choice for the job after Unai Emery withdrew from a verbal agreement to take over. That twist of fate proved “life-changing” for Howe, who has since led Newcastle to two Wembley finals, a League Cup triumph, and a second consecutive Champions League campaign. Now, he faces Emery’s Villa, a side that sits third in the Premier League, 10 points ahead of Newcastle but only three points clear of fourth-placed Liverpool. The stakes? A top-four finish and another shot at Champions League football.

Howe knows the magnitude of the task ahead. “Bruno’s just a very good player, a very talented footballer. He has the ability to change games. If we’re without him we have to come up with a solution; we’ll try and figure out all avenues,” he told the media on Friday. The statistics back up his anxiety: since Guimaraes arrived from Lyon four years ago, Newcastle have failed to win any of the 10 Premier League matches he’s missed.

One obvious solution is to ask Lewis Miley to step into Guimaraes’s role alongside Sandro Tonali and Joelinton in the familiar 4-3-3 formation. Howe is full of praise for the young midfielder’s composure and leadership. “Lewis is very relaxed, very calm, unfazed. He’s got that ability to control his emotions and be unwavering in both difficult and successful moments. He experiences both in exactly the same manner. He’s unruffled. He’s got that inner belief and inner strength that says, ‘I believe in myself and I can handle everything that’s thrown at me’. To be a successful captain, one that other players look to as the leader, you need those qualities.”

Howe’s tactical consistency is both a strength and a potential vulnerability. Critics argue his devotion to the 4-3-3 makes Newcastle predictable and perhaps too reliant on the form of wingers like Anthony Gordon. Some suggest experimenting with Nick Woltemade in a No 10 role, but Howe seems intent on fostering healthy competition among his strikers. “They have to take on the challenge,” he explained. “You want the whole team feeling the same, that one bad performance can cost them their place.”

As Newcastle prepare to face a Villa side possibly fatigued from their Europa League exploits, the Magpies’ own inconsistencies loom large. Will the team that crumbled at Sunderland last month show up, or will it be the high-octane side that swept PSV aside? The answer could shape the rest of Newcastle’s season, with a crucial Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain looming just days later.

Sunday’s encounter is more than just another fixture—it’s a litmus test of Newcastle’s resilience, depth, and ambition. With a top-four finish and European dreams on the line, all eyes will be on St James’ Park to see how Eddie Howe’s men respond to adversity and whether Bruno Guimaraes’s absence proves too much to overcome. The action is set, the stakes are high, and for Newcastle United, everything is still to play for.