Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is facing the difficult task of replacing Bruno Guimaraes for the next three Premier League matches due to his suspension.

The Brazil international was shown a straight red card in the Carabao Cup semi-final clash against Southampton and will now be out of action for the next three games before being back available for the final at Wembley against Manchester United.

Bruno has been a standout performer for the Magpies throughout the season so far, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.14 in the top-flight, which places him fifth in the squad and first for central midfielders.

The 25-year-old has chipped in with three goals and three assists from the middle of the park, and no other player in that position has managed more than two goals or two assists in the Premier League for Howe.

Joe Willock (6.86) and Sean Longstaff (6.74) have been solid performers in midfield but have not been performing near the incredible level of Bruno has since he arrived in England midway through the 2021/22 campaign.

Newcastle could find an alternative to the Brazilian talent by going into the transfer market at the end of the season, although that does not help them in the short-term, and one of their January targets could be the man for the job.

On deadline day, it was reported that the club were considering a deal to sign Sander Berge from Championship side Sheffield United, but the 24-year-old ended up remaining at Bramall Lane.

Howe must reignite Newcastle's interest in the Norwegian midfielder heading into the summer, as he could be a dream Bruno alternative if he can make the step up to the Premier League.

In the Championship this season, the 32-cap Norway international has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.98 across 19 appearances and chipped in with four goals and three assists, whilst creating five 'big chances' for his team-mates.

The 24-year-old, who is also averaging 1.7 tackles and interceptions per match, has showcased his quality as a box-to-box midfielder, and his performances have led to team-mate Chris Basham dubbing him a "Rolls Royce", which shows how highly his peers rate him. 

At the age of 24, Berge still has plenty of time left to develop and make the jump up to the Premier League to replicate, or even improve upon, the displays that he is putting in this season.

The midfielder, who played 29 top-flight matches for the Blades in his first two years in England, is a player who could make an immediate impact at St James' Park whilst also holding the potential to grow and increase his value in the coming years.

Therefore, Berge could be a fantastic prospective signing for Newcastle as an alternative goalscoring and creative midfield option to Bruno and a gem in his own right, and Howe must pursue a summer deal for the Norwegian talent.