Bruno Guimaraes has opened up on his remarkable six-day comeback and given insight into the use of the club’s cryotherapy unit to help the Magpies keep up their chase for the League Cup and Champions League.
Eddie Howe speaking after the game, he told Sky Sports: “Bruno was very distressed. He was in a lot of pain. With one of the challenges, he twisted his ankle and felt he could run it off.
“Obviously he couldn’t, he asked for his ankle to be strapped and he just signalled with about 30 seconds of the first half left that he needed to be withdrawn.
But just six days later was spotted striding into Selhurst Park for the 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace before following it up with a man of the match display in the League Cup semi-final against Southampton.
The Newcastle star has opened up on the moment he rolled his ankle in the 1-0 win against Fulham that reduced him to tears. But he has shed light on why he was so upset with the League Cup semi-finals on his mind.
Bruno told Chronicle Live: “I cried when I got injured. That was because I was nervous about this injury as it was the same one I had when I played for Brazil. “Back then I was out for three weeks. I would like to say thank you to the medical staff who did a big job to get me back. But it was just really important to help the team. I am proud of myself and proud of the boys as well.
United’s new owners upgraded the facilities and installed ice chambers to aid players recoveries between matches. Bruno admits he was plunged into temperatures of minus 100 to get ready for Palace and Southampton.
When asked about the ice chamber, Bruno said: “Every day! “Three times a day to get me better as quickly. It was minus 100, too much!”
Newcastle spent time recovering on the South Coast the day after the 1-0 win at St Mary’s Stadium and have the luxury of a free weekend due to their FA Cup exit at Sheff Wed. While United are preparing for the second leg, Southampton will be going through the rigours of their fourth round tie against Blackpool.
Yet Bruno knows it is only half-time and said: “It’s true. We know it is only one game, and we know how much of a big win it was against Southampton. It is a difficult pitch to play and does not play very well.
