Bruno Guimaraes looks ahead to Newcastle clash with…

Bruno Guimaraes looks ahead to Newcastle clash with Nottingham Forest and Jesse Lingard

Bruno Guimaraes admits that Newcastle United must keep a watchful eye on one-time summer transfer target Jesse Lingard next weekend.

Lingard is set to make his Nottingham Forest Premier League debut after arriving at the City Ground following his release from Manchester United. Bruno is well aware of the England man's quality but he is confident Newcastle have enough quality to succeed this season with the players currently on board.

United moved on from Lingard after wages could not be agreed back in June and he consequently signed for Forest who were prepared to shell out big wages and a hefty signing on fee.

When asked about Lingard, Bruno told Chronicle Live: "Yes, he is a good player, a famous player. We need to take care with him because he is a big player."

The Brazil international spoke of the confidence of his current team-mates when asked if he would have liked to play alongside the ex- West Ham star and said: "It's difficult to say this. He's another player (for another team), and we have good players here. I have a lot of confidence in the boys here, I believe in the team and I believe in myself."

Newcastle warmed up for that clash with Forest with a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao at St James' Park with Bruno one of the stars of the show. But now the focus is firmly on stopping Lingard and co next weekend.

Bruno said: "Nottingham Forest will be a difficult game. We know the first game is always difficult to play. We are not fully up to speed yet (in terms of Premier League action) but we have one week to be ready. And the good thing is the Forest game is at home, when you play at home you need to win.

"And we will work to get the three points. The Premier League doesn't have any easy games. "All the games are difficult and we know the intensity. We need to get it right and be right for this game."

And reflecting on the victory over the men from La Liga, Bruno said: "It was only a friendly but I think we played well. It was important to own the game.

"We are now OK for the start of the Premier League now. We had a big test against Athletic Bilbao, it's always difficult to play against them.

"In my opinion, we did well. "When they changed the players it was a little bit more difficult after the break. But we got the win and it was important for us."

Bruno Guimaraes looks ahead to Newcastle clash with Nottingham Forest and Jesse Lingard

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