Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle celebrates after scoring the first Newcastle goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St James' Park on January 04, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle celebrates after scoring the first Newcastle goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St James' Park on January 04, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Newcastle United team news for their Premier League clash against Brentford.
The Magpies had been without their captain for the last four matches due to an ankle injury, coinciding with a draw with Paris Saint-Germain and defeats against Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City.
Eddie Howe’s side have never won a Premier League match Guimaraes has missed since joining the club for £40million from Lyon in January 2022.
Bruno Guimaraes returns to Newcastle United’s starting XI
Speaking ahead of his return, Guimaraes told the club’s matchday programme: “I’ve been working hard to get back on the pitch.
“I’m feeling better, getting better and hopefully I can be out there as soon as possible. It’s been around two weeks without playing and I can’t wait to get back.
“Every day and moment, I want to get back on the pitch. My life is not the same when I’m not playing, it’s like some part of my body is not in the right position - so I’m missing playing a lot and I’m doing everything I can to be back with you.
“Today is a really important game for us, even more so with the run of away games we are in at the moment. We know Brentford are a very good team, they show in the last game when they beat Aston Villa away from home.
“So we are aware of that and try to play our game and make them feel uncomfortable in our home. Of course, let’s make an unbelievable atmosphere at St James’ Park, and get three important points.”
Newcastle United five changes v Brentford - Yoane Wissa starts
Guimaraes is one of five changes from Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg defeat to Manchester City.
Yoane Wissa starts against the club he joined Newcastle from for £55million in the summer, while Nick Pope, Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes also come into the XI.
Aaron Ramsdale, Dan Burn, Jacob Ramsey and Nick Woltemade drop to the bench while Anthony Gordon misses out through injury.
Lewis Miley absent for Newcastle United
As per Newcastle’s club website, “Lewis Miley has also lost his fitness battle”. The midfielder was an unused substitute in last weekend’s defeat to Liverpool and wasn’t in the squad in midweek.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Howe said: "Bruno's getting closer. He did a training session on Wednesday when we were travelling. He felt pretty good, so I'll see him today and fingers crossed he'll be fit.
"We'll find out today (about Miley). I'm awaiting an update on him but again it's not a serious injury and we hope he'll be back very soon."
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