Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has revealed that Bruno Guimaraes’ goalscoring exploits against Leicester City on Sunday have given him a different outlook on the 24-year-old after signing him as a more defensive acquisition in January.
Guimaraes is enjoying a fantastic start to life on Tyneside and continues to surprise Howe after popping up with the goals that helped his side come from behind to secure all three points against the Foxes at the weekend. The Brazilian midfielder grabbed a dramatic 95th minute header to all but confirm Newcastle ’s status in the top flight for next season, and Howe believes he has given him a dimension he never expected.
Howe admits he did not sign Guimaraes to score goals and win games in the same fashion he did on Sunday, but is revelling in the bonus he has brought to the side. He said: "Goals weren't necessarily one of the areas where we felt he would enhance us as a team, but he has, he's scored some key goals for us.
"Playing him in the eight role, naturally you expect your number eights to contribute goals and assists and be creative and have a good output, and certainly the way that he's started, he looks like he can lay in that position for us and excel in there.
"I'm really, really pleased with him today. I thought he was magnificent in every aspect, especially out of possession because we struggled to get control of the ball today for any large periods of the game, so our defensive shape had to be very good and in part due to our three midfielders in there, it was very good."
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Arriving as Newcastle’s record signing under their new owners at the start of the year, plenty was expected of the Brazilian after becoming the clubs marquee signing of the January transfer window, with Magpies fans being given a taste of the type of talent they could get used to seeing in years to come.
But Guimaraes has had to wait patiently for his chance. The 24-year-old had to settle for appearances from the bench in his first five games for the club, before making his first start against Southampton on March 10.
And with that first start, the inevitable happened. The Brazilian scored his first goal for the club as they secured a 2-1 victory, with his wonderfully executed, mid-air backheel proving to be the match winner.
Guimaraes has since started a further four out of five games for the Magpies, yet despite being signed as a more defensive midfielder, he again proved his worth in the final third of the pitch after scoring his first double for the club in the 2-1 win over Leicester on Sunday.
His three goals for the club in the victories over the Saints and the Foxes have won his club four points, and has proved to Howe that he has another source of goals and attacking impetus from elsewhere on the pitch.
There is no doubt that the midfielder has the potential to become a huge success at St. James’ Park and with less than half a season under his belt, he already looks to be the real deal. £33.5m now looks like a bargain, and Howe is seeing just how much of a special player he’s got on his hands.
