Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes could miss the next two matches with an injury that may have gone undetected for nearly a week, according to Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope.

The Lowdown: Busy week

Eddie Howe’s side recently felt the brutality of England’s hectic playing schedule, having endured two Premier League games and a cup tie against Tranmere Rovers in the space of a week.

The Magpies began with an emphatic 3-3 draw against Manchester City, with strikes from Miguel Almiron, Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier initially putting the Toon two goals ahead.

Just three days later, the Tyneside outfit struggled past League Two side Tranmere in the Carabao Cup, before finishing the week off with a 1-1 draw against Wolves, in which Allan Saint-Maximin equalled the scoring with a sensational stoppage time volley.

The Latest: Bruno’s injury

Despite playing just five minutes during the midweek cup fixture, Guimaraes was absent from Newcastle’s squad for their Premier League game against Wolves, sparking huge injury concerns.

Hope then shared an update on the Brazilian’s fitness, revealing no one seemed to notice the issue until after Tranmere.

Taking to Twitter, the reliable journalist said:

“Hearing Bruno Guimaraes likely to miss next two matches at least. Doesn’t sound too serious but knock possibly picked up in City game & not detected until post Tranmere.”

The manager has since confirmed himself that Bruno is 'not far' away but unlikely to feature at Anfield.

The Verdict: Big blow

Whilst the extent of the injury appears to be relatively minor, his absence from the Magpies squad for at least a game or two will come as a big blow for Howe.

During the side’s first three league matches, the 24-year-old played the full 90 minutes in each, demonstrating his importance to the manager.

Impressively for a defensive midfielder, the Brazil international has netted five goals in 20 Premier League appearances, while he also averaged 2.6 tackles per game last season – illustrating his ability to contribute offensively and defensively.

Having boasted a fantastic 7.25 match rating during the 2021/22 campaign, Guimaraes is clearly a crucial element in Newcastle’s team, so his absence against Liverpool will hurt.