Former Newcastle United striker Les Ferdinand has heaped praise on the Magpies recruitment with Bruno Guimaraes and Nick Pope's among the standout performers this season. The Magpies duo have been ever present for Eddie Howe's side this season, playing a major part in their quest for European football.
Ferdinand says the pair are the first names on the team-sheet at St. James' Park with Guimaraes a key cog in the Magpies' machine. The former Newcastle striker told Sky Sports: "He makes them tick because he’s the one who will get on the ball all the time.
"He’s the one who will play passes, take it off the back four, he’ll progress the midfield or he’ll get it off the front two, so he’s the one that whenever they get into trouble they’ll get the ball to him. He makes things happen, and when he went off the other day [against Fulham] I was worried for him as it looked like he was going to be out for a long time."
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Newcastle were given a scare when Guimaraes went down injured against Fulham. The Brazilian left the pitch crying after picking up a knock, but recovered within the week to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Ferdinand, like the majority of Newcastle supporters, was pleased to see him recover so quickly. He added: "Everyone feared the worst and I think everyone is delighted to see him back because they know how important he is. If Newcastle are to be successful this season he’s a major part of that.
"You look at him and you think he’s not just you sit at home holding midfield player, he’s that type of hybrid player that can play in two or three positions. What he’s giving to Newcastle at the moment, I imagine with Nick Pope he’s one of the first on the team sheets because of what he brings to the side."
Shay Given was also full of praise for the Magpies' recruitment. The former Toon goalkeeper said: "When you look at Newcastle’s recruitment they’ve got 99% of them right, and he’s probably the best signing he’s made if I’m being honest.
"It’s a bit of a throwback thinking he’s come back from that injury after only a couple of weeks, a bit old school we would have played with injections, whereas in modern football sometimes you feel a niggle and you go ‘oh, I don’t want to play.’ He strikes me as somebody who says ‘strap me up, get me on the pitch, get me playing.’"
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