Lee Ryder has claimed that Allan Saint-Maximin could feature this weekend for Newcastle United after sitting in on Eddie Howe’s pre-match press conference.
Howe did indeed drop several pieces of good news during his press conference on Friday morning confirming that both Elliot Anderson and Saint-Maximin could feature at some point on Saturday afternoon.
The Magpies will be looking to maintain their unbeaten home record this weekend when they welcome Aston Villa to St. James’ Park and the news of their most creative player per 90 mins to have started a game, Saint-Maximin (FBRef), being back is huge news.
Ryder relayed this information on his YouTube channel after speaking to Howe at the club’s training ground.
“Eddie Howe just held his pre-match press conference, the big line to emerge has to be the fact that Allan Saint-Maximin could be back in contention for the game against Aston Villa, whether he starts or not is another matter, but I think for Eddie Howe just to have him back and available in training after a recurrence of a hamstring injury is a huge boost for him.
Should Saint-Maximin start vs Villa?
Yes!
No!
“Where he walks into the team is another matter, of course, but another great player coming back for Eddie Howe.”
TIF Thoughts on Saint-Maximin returning…
There’s no two ways about it, having Saint-Maximin back will only make Newcastle a better team in an attacking sense as he’s currently boasting 1.27 goal-creatin action per 90 minutes with Bruno Guimares in second place with 0.47.
Therefore, it shows that he is very important to Eddie Howe’s side, although they have only lost once without the French winger in their team this season, only dropping points against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Howe will know that he has to be careful with Saint-Maximin though given he’s already sustained a significant muscular injury this season and given how well Newcastle have played without him, there appears no need to start him against Villa, and instead, used him as a scary impact substitute if required.