Bruno Guimaraes set for ‘mammoth lay-off’, could miss 10 or more Newcastle games | OneFootball

Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes is facing a ‘mammoth lay-off’, according to the Daily Mail.

He could miss up to 10 matches or more due to a hamstring injury.

The Newcastle ace was granted permission to return to South America earlier this month to continue his rehabilitation, with initial optimism pointing towards a return in early to mid-April.

However, fresh updates now indicate that his comeback could be delayed until the latter stages of the month, which makes things tricky for Newcastle.

If those projections prove accurate, Guimaraes would be ruled out of key Premier League fixtures against Everton, Manchester United, Chelsea, Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth.

He would also miss the FA Cup fifth-round clash with Manchester City and both legs of Newcastle’s Champions League last-16 tie.

If Newcastle were to advance in both the FA Cup and Europe, the Brazilian international (41 caps) could miss 13 games before regaining full fitness.

The setback is a major blow to Newcastle. Guimaraes is the heartbeat in midfield, dictating tempo, shielding the back four and driving the team forward in transition.

His absence would strip the Magpies of leadership and composure at a pivotal stage of the campaign.

Newcastle’s priority will be ensuring their midfield talisman returns fully fit rather than rushing him back for short-term gain.

But with crucial domestic and European fixtures looming, manager Eddie Howe faces the daunting prospect of navigating the most decisive stretch of the season without his most influential player.

The coming weeks may well define Newcastle’s season, and they may have to do it without Guimaraes.

Meanwhile, Lewis Miley has been experiencing thigh muscle issues since January 28.

He was supposed to be out for a week or two, but he is now likely to return around the time of the Champions League last 16 ties.