Howe says Bruno could make Magpies bow against Everton

United face the Toffees at St. James' Park, 17 days after Jonjo Shelvey’s free kick sealed a 1-0 win at Leeds – the Magpies' first victory of 2022.

Since then Howe has added Dan Burn, Matt Targett and Brazil international Guimarães to his squad, and the United head coach confirmed that all three – along with fellow January arrivals Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood – could feature against Frank Lampard's men.

While Howe believes the former Lyon schemer may need a "period of adjustment" to get up to speed with the English game, he says he is looking forward to deploying him as the Magpies look to haul themselves out of the bottom three.

"I think with every team you join there's a period of adjustment, even if you've been in the Premier League and you're going to another Premier League club. The adjustment is bigger if you're coming from a different league, so with Bruno we'll have to assess him and make a decision on how quickly we transition him into the team," he explained.

"But he's certainly someone we love, and we can't wait to see him play in a Newcastle shirt. I think he's going to bring some great qualities to us, and he's got that composure and calmness that I think we need in our midfield. I'm really, really pleased.

"As for the other guys, I'm really excited to see them transition into the team. They're experienced Premier League players who've both done well for their respective clubs prior to joining us."

The only immediate fitness worry regarding the five new arrivals concerns Ashington-born centre half Burn, who joined his boyhood club from Brighton & Hove Albion on transfer deadline day.

Howe revealed that the 29-year-old was suffering from a toe problem, and said there was a decision to be made on his involvement in the midweek fixture.

"Dan has a slight toe problem that has been aggravated in the last few days," he said.

"It's hopefully nothing too serious. He's got an infected toenail, so it's a small thing but sometimes it can be a big thing. Apart from that, we're all good."

Lampard – who replaced former United manager Rafa Benítez in the Goodison Park dugout last week – led his new side to an impressive 4-1 FA Cup win over Brentford in his first game in charge at the weekend.

And Howe was full of praise for the former Chelsea boss, who he believes will ensure his charges are well-prepared when they arrive on Tyneside.

"Every new manager naturally changes the dynamic slightly and asks his players to do slightly different things. I think Frank will have his philosophy and his way of playing, and I think that was quite evident against Brentford – I think we saw a team that was playing out from the back, comfortable in possession and certainly attacked very well on the day," he said.

"I fully respect Frank, I know him well. I think he's an outstanding manager and he's got a great backroom team with him – really astute people, clever people that have gone in behind him to work with him and the players. I think they have a strong management team, a strong team on the pitch so – as always in every Premier League game – we're going to have to be at our very best to win.

"If you look back at the Leeds game for us, you saw the performance, the physical effort we gave – some of our best fitness markers of the season we gave in that match to win, and we're going to have to repeat that here."

Meanwhile, Howe provided an update on the fitness of leading goalscorer Callum Wilson, who has been sidelined with a calf problem since December’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United.

He said he is hoping have the number nine, who has registered six goals in 15 outings so far this term, back in contention for the campaign's latter stages.

"There is a time when he's due back but I think that time, as always with these types of injuries, is not absolutely clear," added Howe.

"I think we go more on how he feels than necessarily a specific time given by the physios or doctors. It's been slow progress for him since the initial injury – he was recently on crutches. I think he's come off those crutches now and he's walking normally, which is a big step.

"But you can see by that update I'm giving you that it's quite slow. We all wish Callum to come back as quickly as possible, but when he comes back he's got to be fit and ready to give his best. We're helping him with that day-to-day, but I don't think it's going to be short-term. Hopefully he can make the last few games of the season and really help us in the key moments."