Newcastle United need every player fit and firing for Brentford clash
Eddie Howe and Bruno Guimaraes
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The most startling comment that came out of the win against Athletic Bilbao was not Shay Given's claiming that Dan Burn's goal was the 'greatest Champions League header ever'.
Nor was it Sandro Tonali's view on his long-term future at Newcastle United where he admitted that he wasn't looking past the next year.
Instead, it was the revelation by Bruno Guimaraes that not only was he not fully fit for the game, he had actually started feeling unwell in the build-up to last weekend's horror show against West Ham United.
A bit like Guimaraes felt at the start of the week, it left me feeling a bit queasy. Eddie Howe may have felt the same.
Guimaraes' commitment to the cause is extraordinary. He has bought into the ethos that Howe has created, but more importantly he has bought into the culture of the club and the city. He genuinely loves it on Tyneside, as do his family.
This - along with his incredible footballing ability - will see him go down as a true Newcastle United legend. Other players with more ability have come and gone, but few have connected with the fanbase and community as much as Bruno. That's before we even start talking about becoming the first captain since Bob Moncur to lift a trophy in a black-and-white shirt.
The Samba star's personality radiates over everything he does, whether it's by winding up opposition players, sharing a joke with a match official or celebrating with fans. He's an infectious character.
Infectious, but also this week, infected.
Sometimes, a player has to take a step back and recognise the impact on the rest of the squad. While you may want to play every game - and feel that the team will be better if you're in it - honesty and openness to the management is more important.
Howe may have been fully aware of Guimaraes' illness before West Ham but if he was, the decision to start him and then keep him on for the full 90 minutes is extraordinary.
It's a balancing act for the Toon boss. On the one hand, he wants players who are committed, loyal and will do everything for the club and very few players epitomise that more than his captain. But Howe will also need players to admit when they are less than 100%. Contrast Guimaraes with Sandro Tonali, who told his manager he thought the team would be better off without him and sat on the bench for successive games against Benfica and Nottingham Forest, both of which still yielded three points.
Few players are as important to the style of play than their Brazilian heartbeat. His energy and drive sets the tempo, leading by example. Guimaraes as well would have wanted to match up against his best pal Lucas Paqueta but perhaps given what transpired, it wasn't wise.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing but it was obvious during the game that something was off. Even Alan Shearer called it, describing the team's performance as 'lethargic'.
Guimaraes wasn't the only one, of course. His display was way below par but others around him stunk the London Stadium out just as much. Whether they were all feeling unwell before the game, remains to be seen.
Howe perhaps was aware of his skipper's sickness but if he was, keeping him on the pitch for the full game seems strange, especially given his post-Bilbao interview about needing to protect the player.
When asked about Guimaraes' comments in his post-match interview, Howe admitted he didn't know the Brazil international was struggling so much with an illness. "He wasn't saying that to me this morning!" Howe said. "He said he was feeling a million dollars this morning - that's news to me.
"No, in all seriousness, his character is undoubted. His will to play is so strong. I had a detailed talk with him today and he assured me he'd be fit to produce the performance the team needed, while probably acknowledging that he wasn't at 100% fitness."
"That's why we withdrew him when we did, to try and protect him. But I think we lost a little bit when he came off, speaking honestly, that's how important he is to us. I thought he performed very well."
That's the thing with gambles - when they pay off it's worth it. Unfortunately as the West Ham clash showed, when they don't you can end up looking silly.
Sunday's trip to Brentford is another huge game, arguably the biggest yet given the away form and Premier League concerns. A fully fit Guimaraes will be vital but if there are any lingering doubts he must be honest with his manager. It's not a match for rolling the dice.