Bruno Guimarães has offered public support to Lewis Miley after the Newcastle youngster fractured his fibula in training on Tuesday morning. Miley is out for the rest of the season, just after returning from a two-month leg injury, while Newcastle also lose a player who had already made 23 Premier League appearances this season.

Miley's setback leaves Newcastle short again

Guimarães did not dress it up. “Very sad for you, my brother! Wish you a speedy recovery and you know that you can count on me. Love you, my guy,” he said in a message reported by chroniclelive.co.uk.

That is a neat bit of captaincy, but it also arrives at a bad time for Newcastle. Miley had only just got back from his previous lay-off, and the club are now without a young midfielder who had been part of the side across the campaign. His 6.95 Premier League rating points to a steady contribution, not a headline-grabbing one, which is exactly why losing him matters in the run-in.

Guimaraes is talking from experience

The Brazilian’s message landed with extra weight because he has been through his own spell on the sidelines this season. Guimarães said he spent 11 weeks without starting after a hamstring injury earlier in the campaign, calling it “one of the bad moments of my career” and adding that he is now “fully recovered, feeling even better and training well”.

That matters here because he is speaking as someone who knows how frustrating a stoppage can be, and because Newcastle need his own influence back in the team. He also had a 7.5 rating in their most recent Premier League outing and added one goal contribution in that game, which at least shows he is back affecting matches.

Miley’s absence is still the main story. He had also made 7 Champions League appearances and posted a 7.33 rating in the League Cup, so Newcastle are not just losing a squad filler. They are losing a player they have trusted in more than one competition, and they will now have to manage the final part of the season without him.

The remaining league games are away at Nottingham Forest, home to West Ham and away to Fulham. Newcastle may be able to cover the minutes, but there is no softening the blow for Miley, who had only just worked his way back before this latest setback.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →