Newcastle United have the next Jordan Henderson in their ranks after what I’ve seen – pundit
Noel Whelan has suggested Newcastle United have signed the new Jordan Henderson in the shape of Bruno Guimaraes.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Leeds striker hailed the “calmness” and “control” shown by the 24-year-old.
The Brazilian was a standout performer for Newcastle in the Magpies’ 1-0 defeat to Everton on Thursday night.
Guimaraes had more touches (86) than anyone else at Goodison Park and completed the second-most passes (66) at a success rate of 97 per cent (WhoScored).
Whelan compared the January signing’s impact to that of Henderson and Fernandinho at Liverpool and Manchester City respectively.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “This is why they’ve gone out and bought him. He had to bide his time to get into the side but he was well worth waiting for.
“You can see why they paid the money, you can see why he will be such an important player for them this season and next year. He’s got that control.
“He controls the midfield, very much like you’ve got at Liverpool with Henderson and Fernandinho at Manchester City. These sort of players that have that time on the ball and make the right passes.
“They know when to calm to the game down, when to get the ball and make the right passes. It’s not just defensively but offensively as well.
“You could see he picked the time to hurt Everton with some lovely balls down that right-hand side, made-to-measure passes. He actually gets into the box as well so he ticks every box as a midfield player.
“He does bring a calmness to that Newcastle midfield which I think they need. You can see he controls that midfield, he really does. More than anybody else I’ve seen for a long time playing for Newcastle.”
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