Chris Waugh has revealed that Allan Saint-Maximin is not guaranteed to play this weekend for Newcastle United on Pod on the Tyne.
Saint-Maximin was a late absentee from the West Ham United game, with the Frenchman ruled out on the morning of the match, as the winger had picked up a calf injury, which meant he missed his first league game of the season.
Will Saint-Maximin play this weekend?
Yes!
No!
It didn’t appear to hold Newcastle back too much, though, with Eddie Howe’s side able to pick up a point while registering more shots than their opponents and also boasting more possession, which will be huge for them to know they can perform without their second-top scorer and top assister this season.
Waugh, though, believes that it could well be another week without the French winger for the Toon.
He said: “I think it’s going to be touch-and-go for Brentford, it was a calf injury he suffered against Villa, if you remember in the first half he was limping quite badly at one stage and in the second half he was a little bit restricted.
“So there’s a chance he’ll be back for Brentford, he’s been pictured in the gym this week, but it’s going to be touch-and-go for now. So there’s no guarantees he’s definitely back, but they hope it’s not long-term, certainly.”
TIF Thoughts on Allan Saint-Maximin…
Something that could potentially fill fans and Howe with hope and excitement is that Saint-Maximin has posted a video of him working out in his own personal gym as he strives to be fit for this weekend.
While Jacob Murphy performed OK in the absence of Saint-Maximin, recording a 6.69 WhoScored rating, it’s clear that the Frenchman is the club’s most dangerous player – having had the most shots, completed the most dribbles and been fouled the most, which means teams often have no other option but to hack him down, so Howe will know if Saint-Maximin is fit and available, it would be a wise decision to start him.
In other news: ‘It’s going to be’ – Chris Waugh drops Trippier return timeline at NUFC after ‘positive’ update