Steve Bruce says he will be forced to make changes for Wednesday’s trip to Manchester City, followed by a 12.30pm kick-off at Watford on Saturday, and Allan Saint-Maximin seems set to have a rest.
The Frenchman has played a prominent role in Newcastle’s undefeated league re-start, with his willingness and skill attracting admirers beyond Tyneside. Once again he carried a threat, particularly in the first half at St James’ Park.
The 23-year-old is a rare ball-carrying midfielder prepared to break centrally as well as out wide and on a couple of occasions he caused Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen severe stress in an open first half. Saint-Maximin also had a couple of efforts on goal.
But early in the second half, when he tried to burst past Rice again, the West Ham midfielder clawed the ball away and 20 minutes later Saint-Maximin was replaced by Valentino Lazaro.
“Unfortunately I don’t think I could ask Allan to go again on Wednesday, that’s for sure,” Bruce said.
Saint-Maximin’s rising profile also meant that at times he was confronted by at least two claret jerseys and Bruce said that he would have to become used to it: “Of course, people will be wary of him.”
Having lost Sean Longstaff to a hamstring injury at Bournemouth, Bruce fears that Isaac Hayden suffered the same injury against West Ham.
“They’re not serious,” he said, “but it’s two or three weeks. We’ll see where we are [for Wednesday]. Five games in 15 days in the Premier League is a tough ask.”
The point gained moved Newcastle to 12th and while, mathematically, they are not safe, effectively they are. Takeover limbo remains but at least Newcastle United as a club is known to be in next season’s Premier League.
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from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/2C5fBLs
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