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Ciaran Kelly

Bruno shows Sven Botman what he has to do as powerful message sent to Newcastle dressing room

They may play in different positions, of course, but it was fitting that Sven Botman replaced Bruno Guimaraes when the new signing made his Newcastle United debut as a late substitute on Saturday.

Like Bruno, who also arrived from France, Botman is going to play a huge part in Newcastle's bright future but the 22-year-old is going to have to earn his place in this side first - just as his team-mate did many months previously.

Bruno's game time was slowly built up in his first few weeks at the club - the Brazil international made five second-half substitute appearances before his first start - and you suspect Botman will also have to bide his time. Although there is a strong possibility Botman could make his full debut in the Carabao Cup later this month, it may be another little while yet before the defender makes his first Premier League start.

READ MORE: Nottingham Forest make 'richest team in world' claim about Newcastle but real truth revealed

Botman, after all, is only the first import since Bruno who has not previously played in the top-flight. Although Eddie Howe felt Botman was 'ready', the Newcastle boss, tellingly, decided not to throw the new signing in right away against Nottingham Forest on the opening day as he kept faith with Dan Burn and Fabian Schar at the back.

Yes, Botman has had the benefit of a month's training, and already speaks fluent English, but this has still been a big adjustment for the centre-back, who only moved into his new home last week. Botman may have real pedigree as a Ligue 1 title winner who has already played in the Champions League, but even the tempo of training has been a step up at Newcastle. At Lille, Botman often used to be able to catch his breath between drills; that is certainly not the case under the demanding Howe and his staff.

Perhaps you can see why Howe feels this adaptation period will do Botman the 'world of good' as he observes the pace of the Premier League from close quarters and it has sent a powerful message to the dressing room, too, when not even Newcastle's most expensive summer signing can walk into this side.

As much as Howe is loyal to Burn and Schar, who formed a rock-solid partnership in the second half of last season, the pair know they have to continue to play well to keep Botman and club captain Jamaal Lascelles out of the team. Was it any wonder, then, that the pair impressed in the 2-0 win against Forest? Schar even stepped up with a 25-yard screamer to break the deadlock.

Similarly, Jonjo Shelvey, Joelinton and Joe Willock all raised their game after Bruno arrived from Lyon in the mid-season window. Howe kept faith with the trio and they responded with a series of eye-catching displays.

By the time Bruno finally got his chance, after Howe rotated his side during a busy run of fixtures, the 24-year-old knew he had to take it, which he did at Southampton in March. No one is guaranteed their place under Howe, of course, but Bruno has ensured he has been one of the first names on the team sheet with his performances ever since.

Saturday was another polished all-round display: Bruno led the way for passes (63), chances created, (three), dribbles completed (five) and duels won (12). The standard of opposition obviously has to be taken into account - newly-promoted Forest gave Bruno far too much space - but the midfielder has simply given Newcastle a new dimension.

For so many years, after all, Newcastle have struggled to hold onto the ball under pressure but Bruno does just that - even in extreme situations. When Scott McKenna headed a Forest free-kick back across goal, at one point, Bruno chested the ball down in his own box, held off winger Alex Mighten and calmly passed it back to Fabian Schar rather than panicking and launching it forward himself. Later in the game, with substitute Taiwo Awoniyi chasing Bruno down inside his own half, the midfielder coolly lifted the ball over the Forest number nine's head before giving it to Schar once more.

Going forward, too, Bruno repeatedly cut Forest open with a number of defence-splitting passes. On one such occasion, just before the break, Bruno slipped in Miguel Almiron but goalkeeper Dean Henderson pushed the forward's effort onto the outside of the post.

It was hardly a surprise, then, that Bruno left the field to a standing ovation when his number went up in the 93rd minute before Botman entered the field to loud cheers. It will have given Botman just a little taster of what is to come and, indeed, the levels required.

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