Bruno Guimaraes has avoided a serious ankle injury despite limping off in tears during Newcastle United's win against Fulham.
Bruno left St James' Park on crutches on Sunday afternoon after pulling up in Newcastle's 1-0 victory. Although Bruno twisted his ankle early in the game, the Brazil international wanted to play on and even took painkillers and had his right foot strapped up to try and stay on later in the half.
However, a 'distressed' Bruno ultimately left the field in tears at half-time and the 25-year-old was replaced by Allan Saint-Maximin at the break. The injury has left Newcastle with just three fit senior central midfielders in the form of Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Joelinton to play in Howe's favoured 4-3-3 formation because Jonjo Shelvey and Elliot Anderson are also sidelined.
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It is not yet clear when exactly Bruno will return, but none of Newcastle's midfielders are understood to have suffered long-term lay-offs, which is news that will influence the club's transfer plans in the final two weeks of the window - one way or the other. Howe, after all, has always maintained that it will be the injury list that dictates what business Newcastle do this month.
With that stance in mind, Howe, tellingly, hinted to BBC Newcastle after the game that we are 'very light so it's obviously an area we will look at' before Bruno's scan, but the playmaker hopes to be back soon after being assessed by the club's medical staff.
"Very sad about today's injury," the midfielder posted on Instagram after the game. "Hopeful it's nothing serious and that I can do what I love most as soon as possible."
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