Newcastle United host Brentford at St James' Park this afternoon
Kevin Schade of Brentford and Jacob Ramsey of Newcastle United
Brentford's Kevin Schade is suspended for today's game at Newcastle(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
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Newcastle United will make a late decision on the fitness of captain Bruno Guimaraes today as the Magpies' talisman closes in on a return to action.
The Brazilian has missed the last four games in all competitions, and United have not won any of them. Eddie Howe offered a positive injury update on Friday ahead of today's Premier League match with Brentford at St James' Park, but big calls will be made on two key players.
Both sides will be missing first-team regulars this evening, although much of the focus has been on the United captain plus winger Anthony Gordon.
Bruno is in with a good chance of featuring following an ankle injury, with Howe admitting he is 'getting closer', with the midfielder training on Tyneside in midweek instead of travelling to the Carabao Cup tie at Manchester City.
Gordon limped out of that game with a hamstring injury, but the good news is that he won't be sidelined for a lengthy spell, although he will miss Brentford.
Young midfielder Lewis Miley has been a big miss in recent games with a knee problem, and he is another who could make the squad for today's game, although with Spurs next up on Tuesday night, he could be saved for the away trip.
Brazilian midfielder Joelinton will definitely miss the game with a groin injury, as with defenders Fabian Schar and Tino Livramento.
Schar won't be back until April after damaging knee ligaments, although Livramento is expected to feature next month after picking up a hamstring injury.
Emil Krafth makes up the United injury list, with the Swedish defender not yet recovered from a knee injury he collected while on international duty in November.
Brentford will be without the suspended Kevin Schade as he starts his three-match ban for his red card against Everton last weekend.
The forward was sent off for appearing to kick out at Aston Villa's Matty Cash following a challenge, although the Bees went on to win 1-0.
On the injury front, former Liverpool midfielder Fabio Carvalho will miss the rest of the season after undergoing a knee operation in November. Carvalho is not fondly remembered on Tyneside for his late winner for Liverpool in a 2-1 defeat at Anfield in 2022.
He is joined on the sidelines by midfielder Josh Dasilva, who is close to a return from a long-term knee injury, but not until the end of February, while £16m attacking midfielder Antoni Milambo is a long-term absentee, having suffered an ACL injury.
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