Only Dan Burn has played more minutes this season than Bruno, who also jets off to join up with Brazil during every international break.
Howe admits Bruno’s schedule is “intense” and the head coach and his staff are doing all in their power to help the Brazilian.
But with Guimaraes so crucial for Newcastle, Howe hasn’t had the opportunity to rest the 27-year-old, especially with Joelinton having been absent in recent weeks.
Joelinton is in contention to return against Brighton on Sunday, which could potentially give Howe the opportunity to leave Bruno out – but the skipper is adamant he wants to play. And Howe is desperate to advance in the FA Cup and keep Newcastle’s hopes of a domestic double alive.
“Tiredness is a difficult one for me to measure,” said Newcastle’s boss.
“Only Bruno can truly do that but he has had a very, very busy schedule. If you look, for a long, long time now, he has been playing regularly every week or every two or three days.
“He has always been there for us. That is the stand out thing with Bruno. He has never shied away. He wants to play every game, every minute of every game.
“He has a great passion for the game. His international schedule is also full and there’s a lot of travelling within that so we need to protect our players at all times and he is such a special talent.
“Of course, there is another element. The team has missed Joelinton with the the qualities he possesses. He is unlike anyone else. I am not talking individually about Bruno here, I am talking about the team so Jo will be very welcome.”
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Guimaraes was below-par in the midweek defeat at Liverpool and switched off for the home side’s second goal.
“It’s difficult because I’m sure if you asked Bruno, he would say he doesn’t need a rest,” said Howe.
“It is up to us to look at his schedule and try and find ways to do that. We have tried, but he’s such an important player we have turned to him more often than we would ideally want to because of his strengths and qualities.
“So, for example, in the FA Cup, we gave him 45 minutes in the last round and share that burden with Sandro. His schedule is intense. As soon as we have played the Carabao Cup final, he will be off to play for his national team and that will be when others are getting that rest and recuperation.
“He won’t get that but that’s part of being a top player, the benefits of being a top player that he is. But it comes at a cost at times and we have to make sure we protect him.”
For all that Alexander Isak has been the star man this season, Bruno, says Howe, remains as important as ever.
“Without a doubt. He’s in the middle of everything really, he is behind a lot of our good play still,” he said.
“He is an outstanding player and will continue to be. We just need to help him in those moments where we can keep him fresh and get him to his best levels.”