Bruno Guimaraes injury latest as Eddie Howe issues update on Newcastle star ahead of Aston Villa test | OneFootball

Midfielder was forced off against PSV with “immense” pain in his ankle

Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes is a doubt to face Aston Villa this weekend after being forced off with an injury in midweek.

The influential midfielder had to be substituted during the first half of Wednesday's 3-0 win over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League with a suspected ankle injury.

The Chronicle report that the Brazilian complained of "immense" pain at the time, and the extent of the damage remains unknown heading into the weekend.

Asked for an update on Friday, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said: "We hope it is not serious, [the] extent of the injury is still unknown.

"He was reasonably positive after the game, he is the guy that will never rule anything out.

"We are going to give him every chance for this weekend. We will try and make the right decision with Bruno; he is a pivotal player."

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Newcastle host Villa on Sunday before a Champions League decider away at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.

The midweek win over PSV sealed a spot in the Champions League knockout phase play-offs next month, but Newcastle can still secure a top-eight finish in the League Phase, which comes with automatic qualification for the last-16 stage.

However, PSG are in the same boat and know they must win in the French capital to avoid the two-legged play-off in February.

Howe has confirmed 28-year-old will not be unnecessarily risked.

He continued: "We will always try to make the right decisions, as we do with every player, depending on need and circumstances, to protect them long-term but also to help the team if they need to play.

He has been the match-winner for us so many times over the years. He is an inspirational figure, so we need him

Eddie Howe

"So, we will try to get that right with Bruno, he is a pivotal player. He has been the match-winner for us so many times over the years. He is an inspirational figure, so we need him.

"But we also need him fit and available and able to perform to his best levels, so we will try to make the right calculations and come up with the right decision."

Another player who is in contention to play on Sunday is Dan Burn, who has missed Newcastle's last 10 games after puncturing a lung and breaking ribs in Newcastle's derby defeat to Sunderland last month.

Asked if Burn could make the squad, Howe said: "Possibly.

"Today is possibly the first day he's training fully with the group and taking contact, and that will be the key thing for him. But he's desperate to get back involved so that's a great sign."