Eddie Howe is confident Newcastle folk hero Bruno Guimaraes can bounce back from being made a scapegoat for Brazil’s disappointing World Cup.
The 25-year-old has received heavy media criticism in his homeland for his contribution in Qatar, despite only making appearances as a second-half substitute in the victory over Switzerland and defeat to Cameroon.
But Howe expects midfielder Guimaraes, who has shone on Tyneside since arriving for £35million from Lyon in January, to carry on from where he left off in tonight’s home Carabao Cup tie with Bournemouth.
‘He’s fine physically. He’s obviously disappointed to not reach the latter stages of the World Cup with his country,’ said the Magpies boss.
‘Their dream was to win the tournament but he’s focused now on Newcastle and that’s very important for all the players, to put that behind them and take what positives they can.’
On whether Guimaraes had to prove he should have been used more by Brazil boss Tite, having sat out the quarter-final defeat to Croatia, Howe added: ‘That’s all he can do, continue his form from earlier in the season.
‘For me, he has been outstanding for us. He had a small injury at the start of the season, but once he got his fitness back, he has been incredible.
‘I hope we get to see the same Bruno come back because he is a massive presence in our team.’
Of the five Newcastle players who featured in Qatar, England duo Nick Pope and Kieran Trippier played in a friendly win over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday but compatriot Callum Wilson, Switzerland defender Fabian Schar and Guimaraes were not involved. ‘I spoke with all the international lads when they came back, obviously. Kieran and Nick were very keen to play in the game,’ Howe added.
‘Those conversations are important because those boys have had not just the physical load from being at the World Cup, but the mental side of it can’t be under-estimated, so I’ll continue those conversations with the other lads and we’ll see where we are.’
Howe, who will make late decisions on Dan Burn, Joelinton and Miguel Almiron, also has a doubt over striker Allan Saint-Maximin who picked up a knock late in Saturday’s game.
MORE : Newcastle urged to hand Bruno Guimaraes new deal amid Chelsea interest
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