Bruno Guimaraes set to be benched at Wolves? Let me explain | OneFootball

Bruno Guimaraes to be on the bench at Molineux, sounds like sacrilege.

However, I think this will be the case today.

Plus, it will be to the benefit of all parties, not least Bruno Guimaraes.

Bruno is our talisman, also now our captain.

However, he is still only human.

Bruno Guimaraes has played football pretty much non-stop the last two years and played a crazy number of matches/minutes last season for Newcastle United. He ended up having to play almost every match for us, especially as the list of missing players got to ridiculous levels, including all those midweeks because of the injuries (and suspension).

I think this has massively contributed to an average start to the season for Bruno.

During his time at Newcastle United, Bruno Guimaraes has also gone from very much a fringe player who had played very few minutes for Brazil, to now for some time starting every match for his country as well.

Yes, Bruno is vital for Newcastle United’s chances this season BUT that is even more reason to look after him now.

The same with anything/anyone, you can’t just keep on loading more and more on, without at some point needing some give.

Far better to allow that give now, than push and push and break something that is so precious. Which in our case, as I see it, could mean Bruno Guimaraes picking up a serious injury due to asking him to do too much when stretched too far.

I am absolutely sure that this will be in Eddie Howe’s thoughts and that he will do whatever is right by Bruno Guimaraes and the club. He will have all the physical data and will make that informed choice. No doubt Bruno will be desperate to play today but this is where you need the manager to make the decision, definitely not the player.

Bruno and Miggy played in South America early hours on Wednesday in UK time, guessing not back to Tyneside until Thursday, then training ground on Friday.

Bruno Guimaraes could well still start but I think for the benefit of all, he could well be more effective off the bench against Wolves.

It helps of course that we now have, finally, the perfect replacement available.

Sandro Tonali of course started against Forest and Bruno benched, only for the early injury to Willock meaning the Brazilian came on after only 15 minutes. Eddie Howe afterwards said it was far from idea, as he had wanted to look after Bruno Guimaraes, to ‘protect’ him from playing too much too early in the season.

I think we will have to wait a little longer for the dream midfield trio to start in the Premier League, as I fancy it will be Joelinton, Longstaff and Tonali kicking off against Wolves.

Sandro Tonali is bursting to play as much football as possible after 10 months unable to.

Italy played their second September international in Budapest on Monday, so whilst it was the second full 90+ minutes in a matter of days, he will have been back to Tyneside on Tuesday. He will be totally fit and more than prepared and ready to play today IMHO.

Dan Burn (or Kieran Trippier…) to be captain at Wolves today, with Bruno Guimaraes a second half impact sub to help ensure Newcastle United pick up all three points at Molineux. That is my prediction, for what it is worth.