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WHY BRUNO GUIMARAES IS CURRENTLY THE BEST CAPTAIN IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE

Bruno Guimaraes leads Newcastle to a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace. Read the full match report and Eddie Howe’s expert analysis.

Why Bruno Guimaraes is Currently the Best Captain in the Premier League
Eddie Howe’s Tactical Faith in Guimaraes is Saving Newcastle’s 2026 Season Quest

Newcastle United kicked off 2026 with a solid 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at St. James’ Park, jumping up to ninth place in the Premier League. The first half didn’t offer much, but things changed after the break. Bruno Guimaraes, wearing the captain’s armband, nodded in his seventh goal of the season to finally break the deadlock. That puts him level with Nick Woltemade as Newcastle’s top scorer in the league this year.

Not long after, Guimaraes whipped in a corner, and Malick Thiaw was right there to tap it home from close range. That’s Thiaw’s first goal at St. James’ since joining from AC Milan over the summer.

Guimaraes has been on a roll lately—he scored in the 3-1 win over Burnley to close out 2025, and now he’s helped Newcastle bag back-to-back victories to start the new year. After the match, the 28-year-old shared his excitement on Instagram: “We finished 2025 in the best possible way and started 2026 even better! Happy with the three points and another goal. We’re giving everything we have to achieve our objectives this year. Howay the lads!” Thiaw chimed in with a comment, calling him the “Magician.”

Thiaw, still buzzing after his goal, told Premier League Productions just how much he rates his captain: “Bruno Guimaraes is incredible. Off the pitch, a super nice guy—but on the pitch, his quality speaks for itself. Some things he does, I’m like, wow—what a player! Scoring my first goal at St. James’ was amazing. Celebrating in front of the fans, you could just see the emotion on their faces. And that celebration with Nick? We started it when he scored, and it’s just stuck.”

Eddie Howe, Newcastle’s head coach, didn’t hold back on his praise for Guimaraes after the final whistle. “Bruno is a very special player, a special person, a special character. He’s got great energy. He played a captain’s role today—this was always going to be a game decided by big moments, and he delivered again. He’s done it so many times. Your big players decide big games, and today, Bruno was the difference for us.”

It’s been almost four years since Guimaraes arrived from Lyon, and in that time, he’s made 182 appearances and scored 29 goals. Newcastle have qualified for the Champions League twice and finally ended a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy with the Carabao Cup. Guimaraes keeps showing why he’s such a huge part of this team’s recent success.

MILESTONE MOMENT: JACOB RAMSEY ENDS GOAL DROUGHT TO SINK TOTTENHAM AND THOMAS FRANK

Jacob Ramsey scored his first Newcastle goal to secure a 2-1 win over Tottenham. Read Eddie Howe’s reaction and TNT Sports interview.

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Jacob Ramsey inspires Newcastle to a vital 2-1 win at Tottenham

Eddie Howe’s team grabbed the lead right before half-time, with Malick Thiaw poking in a loose ball from close range. Honestly, they deserved it. Just a few moments earlier, Joe Willock looked like he’d put the visitors ahead, but VAR stepped in and ruled it out for a razor-thin offside.

So Newcastle went into the break on top. But less than 20 minutes into the second half, the Spurs pulled level. Archie Grey scored from a corner, completely against the run of play. The celebration didn’t last, though. Just four minutes later, Jacob Ramsey fired in a lovely left-footed shot past Guglielmo Vicario. That ended up being the winner.

Ramsey’s goal was a big moment. It was his first for Newcastle since joining from Aston Villa over the summer, and it came just before the Magpies get ready to face his old club in the FA Cup’s Fourth Round. Injuries and tough competition have kept Ramsey from locking down a regular spot at St James’ Park so far, but lately, he looks like someone Howe just can’t leave out.

After the win over the Spurs, Ramsey, who picked up player of the match, talked to TNT Sports about what Howe’s been asking of him. “Yeah, it’s been a while. I’ve been playing all over the place, but today I was a bit higher up the pitch, and the manager kept telling me I need to get my numbers up. Thankfully, I got my goal today.

“I knew I was in the box, played a one-two with Gordon, and it just felt natural. Left foot, nice finish.”

He’s had a rough start at Newcastle. “I got injured in my first start and ended up out for two months. I needed to get my fitness back, and then I was in and then out of the team.

Now, though? “I’m feeling good, feeling fit. I just want to stay in the team, keep scoring, keep getting assists, and help the team out.”

Eddie Howe couldn’t hide his happiness after Ramsey’s goal; his celebration said it all. After the match, Howe praised not just Ramsey’s finish but his whole performance. “Really good goal,” Howe said. “He’s just such a technical player, and you could see that tonight.

“I thought our two number eights, Willock and Ramsey, really stood out. Physically, they were excellent.

“We controlled the first half, partly because of them and Bruno. I’m just so happy for Jacob, because he deserved some recognition for how well he’s been playing lately.”

Next up, Howe and his squad head to Villa Park on Saturday to take on Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

EDDIE HOWE CONFIRMS HE WILL NOT RESIGN DESPITE GROWING FAN PRESSURE

Eddie Howe remains defiant at Newcastle United, receiving crucial backing from CEO David Hopkinson despite a slide to 12th place.

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Eddie Howe Vows To "Raise The Level" Ahead Of Spurs

Eddie Howe isn’t going anywhere. Even after the boos from the crowd following Newcastle United’s loss to Brentford, he’s standing his ground.

He’s got backing, too. CEO David Hopkinson publicly supported him last week, and over the weekend, Howe got more encouragement from Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson. But honestly, Howe says the only real pressure comes from himself. He’s his own toughest critic, and he’s determined to come out stronger from this first real rough patch as head coach.

At his press conference, Howe didn’t hide how much the club means to him. “I care so much about what I do. I care so much about the club,” he said. For him, the club always comes first—above himself, above any player. Every decision he makes, he says, is about what’s best for Newcastle United.

And sure, the players matter a lot, but he keeps the bigger picture in mind. He doesn’t worry about outside pressure or what others say—he’s more concerned about living up to his own standards. “I need to do better, and I will do better,” he admitted. Tough moments like this, he said, are where you grow the most, and he’s ready to take it on.

When someone asked if he ever doubted he was the right person for the job, Howe didn’t hesitate. “No, there’s no doubt in my mind, and that’s why I’m sitting here,” he said. If he ever stopped believing he was the right man for Newcastle, he’d walk away. But his motivation is still sky-high, and he’s fighting for the club every single day.

He made it clear—he’d never put himself before the club. If he thought someone else could do better, he’d step aside.

With Newcastle sitting 12th in the table and a desperate Spurs team up next, Howe knows he needs to be at his best. “That’s when everyone is looking at you to set the tone,” he said. People want someone to follow, and he’s ready to lead. He believes in his coaching staff and the squad—a group he calls honest and caring. All that’s left, he says, is to raise the level of their performances.

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