Newcastle United issue Bruno Guimaraes injury update ahead of facing Bournemouth.
The Magpies’ captain has been out of action since the beginning of February after sustaining a hamstring injury in the 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur.
Guimaraes was scheduled to resume training during the recent international break but missed a key body of work after contracting mumps.
The 28-year-old missed last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace and was initially a doubt for the Bournemouth game. But after training this week, Howe hopes to involve his skipper in the matchday squad.
Newcastle United hoping for Bruno Guimaraes boost
Howe said: “Yes, there is a chance. We've seen him in training. He's pushing really, really hard to be back involved.
“I think the medical team are trying to hold him back. I say hold him back, but there's always that tug because the player wants desperately to play.
“I love that about Bruno. He always has done. He's desperate to help the team, especially in this moment, so I'll make a decision based on what I see today in training, but there's a possibility.”
“Yeah, [we’ve missed him] in a whole host of ways,” Howe added. “I think his personality, for one. You miss his smile. He's a really positive guy. He's got a great aura around him, but he's a winner. And from my side, you can't have enough winners in your changing room.
“You can't have enough people who want to win every little thing that they engage in, and he's certainly got that boundless enthusiasm that we've missed.
“We've missed his quality on the pitch. We've missed his desire to get on the ball in every moment. I'd say that's always Bruno's biggest strength. If you watch him and focus on him in the game, he'll chase the ball. He'll want the ball. He'll demand the ball off his teammates.
“And he's creative. Whether he's lower, whether he's higher, he's always looking for that creative intent, and that's why I said we've missed, I think, the attacking intent of the team. And he, in part, is a big producer of that for us.
“To get him back fit and available at his best will be a massive thing for us.”
Joelinton ruled out v Bournemouth and Arsenal
Guimaraes could take Joelinton’s place in the matchday squad, as the 29-year-old is missing the next two games through suspension.
Joelinton picked up his 10th yellow card of the season during the Palace defeat for a challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta. As per Premier League rules, any player who is booked 10 times in their club’s opening 32 matches is handed an automatic two-match ban.
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