While the injured Jamaal Lascelles remains Newcastle’s club captain, Guimaraes has been the on-field leader for the vast majority of the campaign.
The Brazilian has always been an influential figure within the dressing room, but Howe feels his importance within the group has become even more accentuated this term.
“I think Bruno’s done well this year,” said the Magpies boss, whose side host Nottingham Forest this afternoon. “It’s a big change. The captaincy brings its own challenges for any player. I think you need a slightly different mindset when you have the armband, having experienced it myself.
“But I think he’s adapted really well. What he has done well, as well, is that he’s leant on other people, it hasn’t just been about him. I think he’s empowered the people around him to help him.”
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The likes of Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson remain important figures within Newcastle’s first-team group, even though they have regularly found themselves out of the starting line-up this season.
Dan Burn is another senior figure who is encouraged to take on a leadership role, with Howe keen to spread the responsibility throughout his squad.
“We’ve got a really strong leadership group,” he said. “Those big voices and big personalities certainly help him (Guimaraes) in that moment. I don’t look at it as having one captain – we’ve got five or six, and that’s much more powerful.”
