The medical room at St. James’ Park is once again a busy place as Newcastle United prepares for a high-stakes FA Cup journey to face Aston Villa this coming Saturday. While the mood on Tyneside was significantly lifted by a gritty 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night a result that snapped a demoralizing three-game losing streak the win came at a heavy physical cost.
Eddie Howe is now grappling with a double injury blow in the center of the pitch, though there is a glimmer of hope regarding a surprise return for one of the club’s most physical stars.
The most pressing concern involves the team’s heartbeat, Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian midfielder was instrumental in the win at Tottenham but caused immediate panic when he was forced to leave the pitch in the final minutes. He appeared to be clutching his leg, leading to fears of a hamstring tear.
This is particularly worrying because the “magic” of Newcastle’s midfield often disappears when their captain is absent. After the game, Eddie Howe admitted that Guimaraes was concerned, primarily because he had never experienced a hamstring issue before.
While everyone is hoping it was merely severe cramping brought on by the intensity of the match, the manager’s initial gut feeling suggests a more standard muscular injury.
Guimaraes himself took to social media shortly after the final whistle to celebrate the team’s character while expressing hope that his recovery would be swift. However, given that he only recently returned from an ankle problem that saw him miss the previous league encounter against Villa, the medical staff is expected to take a cautious approach.
It is highly likely that he will be ruled out for the trip to Villa Park, and there is a growing shadow of doubt over whether he will be fit enough to board the plane for the Champions League clash against Qarabag in Baku next Wednesday.
The midfield crisis is deepened by the continued absence of young talent Lewis Miley. The nineteen-year-old has been a revelation this season, but he has been missing from the squad since the hard-fought draw against Paris Saint-Germain. Initially, there was some confusion regarding the nature of his injury, with early reports suggesting a knee problem.
Howe has since clarified that Miley is suffering from a particularly severe “dead leg.” While that might sound minor to a casual observer, the internal bruising is significant enough that the youngster has already missed four matches and is expected to be sidelined for at least another week. This means the Magpies will likely head into their next two fixtures without two of their most creative passing options.
However, where one door closes, another may be about to open. The Newcastle faithful have been closely monitoring the recovery of Joelinton, whose presence was sorely missed during the recent run of defeats.
The powerhouse Brazilian suffered a groin injury during the last league meeting with Aston Villa, but the news from the specialist in Barcelona was surprisingly upbeat. Instead of a long-term layoff requiring surgery, he only needed a single injection to stabilize the area.
Eddie Howe hinted that Joelinton’s recovery timeline was being measured in weeks rather than months, and he is now reaching the three-week mark since the injury occurred.
Fueling the fire of a potential comeback, supporters have noticed the midfielder looking sharp and revitalized in recent social media updates. In the superstitious world of football, a fresh haircut often precedes a return to the starting lineup, and many believe he could be the “surprise” name on the team sheet this Saturday.
His return would be a massive boost, providing the physicality and defensive cover needed to counteract a strong Villa side on their home turf.
Aston Villa is not without their own problems, however. While Unai Emery’s men managed a narrow 1-0 win over Brighton in midweek, they did so without the services of right-back Matty Cash. Emery was vague in his post-match comments, describing the issue as a “small injury” but refusing to guarantee Cash’s availability for the FA Cup tie.
For Newcastle, the potential absence of Villa’s regular right-back could offer an avenue for success, provided they can patch up their own midfield in time. Saturday’s clash promises to be a battle of attrition, where the depth of each squad will be tested just as much as their tactical setups.
