Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin out until new year with hamstring tear
Newcastle United will be without one of their best players over Christmas after it was confirmed Allan Saint-Maximin has suffered a hamstring tear.
As expected, a scan confirmed that the France winger has damaged his hamstring, an injury picked up late on in the 2-1 win over Southampton last weekend.
It is a huge setback for the Magpies as they have relied heavily on the winger’s explosive dribbling ability to carry an offensive threat and the recent run of good form – just one defeat in their last seven games – has coincided with his excellent form.
Saint-Maximin arrived from Nice for £16.5m in the summer, has been a huge hit on Tyneside and is already firmly established as a crowd favourite.
Worryingly for manager Steve Bruce, his team have looked pedestrian and predictable without the 23-year-old in the starting line up and he will now miss all of the festive season schedule.
On the plus side, Bruce feels striker Andy Carroll is strong enough to start successive games and he will lead the line against Burnley this weekend as Brazilian striker Joelinton continues to struggle following his £40m move from Hoffenheim.
Meanwhile, Bruce has defended the club’s decision to give away 10,000 free half-season tickets to existing season ticket holders in a bid to fill St James’ Park. Crowds have dipped alarmingly this season with many boycotting games in protest at owner Mike Ashley and the failure to keep former manager Rafa Benitez.
It was Bruce’s idea to get the club to try and fill the stadium again and he told Sky Sports: “It took place very quickly after a conversation with Lee (Charnley) after the game on Sunday: ‘Is there anything we can do?’
“To be fair to the club, they have come up with this idea and it’s fantastic for the truly loyal supporters of the club. It’s a great gesture from the club also at this particularly hard time.
“We want a full St James’ Park. I’ve been here as a player and as an opposition manager and when it’s full and in full voice it can be a pretty intimidating place. It’s a reward for the truly loyal supporters that we’ve got.
“We still had the best part of 43,000 there. It’s quite a remarkable crowd but it’s something we’ve tried to address and it’s something the club have thought about and the gesture to do it is terrific. So I’m glad we can have a full St James’ Park because that’s what it’s about and hopefully we can thrive off that support.
“We’re never going to appease everybody all the time. It’s up to people, if they want to protest it’s their prerogative but I think it’s a wonderfully great gesture and the way it’s gone down in the city with the majority of supporters who have supported the club through thick and thin through the season ticket holders, it’s a great idea. 10,000 season tickets is quite remarkable. I didn’t think we’d give that many away.”
