Sky Sports provide Bruno Guimaraes explanation as Newcastle United captain misses training
Bruno Guimaraes didn’t train outdoors with his Newcastle United teammates ahead of the Athletic Bilbao game.
Newcastle United’s preparations are underway for the Champions League tie at home to Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night.
The Magpies continued their poor start to the Premier League season on Sunday after losing 3-1 away to West Ham United, who started the day 19th in the table and without a home win since February.
Eddie Howe’s side haven’t won away in the Premier League since April, which is also the last time they won back-to-back league games, and currently sit 13th in the table after 10 matches.
But their form in the Champions League has been somewhat the opposite and they head into the Bilbao clash at St James’ Park eyeing a third straight victory after wins over Union Saint-Gilloise and Benfica.
Bruno Guimaraes absent from Newcastle United outdoor training
The TV cameras were invited into the Magpies’ Benton training ground on Tuesday afternoon and hinted at mixed team news ahead of the game.
Kieran Trippier was pictured back training after he missed West Ham due to illness. His absence was a big blow for Howe, who started with Emil Krafth at right-back before moving Malick Thiaw, Jacob Murphy and Sandro Tonali there as United chased the game in the second-half.
However, one player that wasn’t captured in training was captain Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian played the full 90 minutes at West Ham and later issued an apology to supporters for the manner of the defeat.
According to Sky Sports News, Guimaraes has been suffering with a slight illness and wasn’t present outdoors, instead doing a recovery session inside. It is hoped the midfielder will be available for selection as normal.
Six Newcastle United players already ruled out v Athletic Bilbao
Tino Livramento and Yoane Wissa are set to remain sidelined until after the November international break.
In addition to the pair, Howe is also unable to name Jamaal Lascelles, Harrison Ashby, John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie in his matchday squad versus Bilbao.
This is because the quartet weren’t named on the 21-man ‘List A’ squad Newcastle submitted to UEFA ahead of the competition getting underway.
UEFA rules allow clubs to submit a ‘List A’ of up to 25 players, if they include four ‘club-trained’ players. But in this instance, the Magpies could only name a squad of 21 due to the lack of club-trained players.