Allan Saint-Maximin misses Newcastle’s crunch game with Tottenham Hotspur and remains in France for hamstring injury treatment… but Eddie Howe insists there has been NO setback despite hopes he’d be fit
- Saint-Maximin was due to return to Tyneside ahead of the Spurs game this week
- The problem is just the latest in a string of injuries during his time at the club
- Howe insisted recovery from the problem “has taken longer than originally thought”
Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin remains in France for treatment for a hamstring injury and will miss Sunday’s crucial visit to Tottenham – but Eddie Howe insists there has been no setback.
The 26-year-old was due to come to Tyneside this week and there were hopes he could make it to the bench for the fourth-on-fifth clash after being allowed to return to his home country for specialist treatment last week.
Saint-Maximin was a big miss as Newcastle’s five-game winning streak came to an end at Aston Villa on Saturday, and there is no clarity on when he will be available.
Howe said, “He’s not back in the country yet. We’ll see him early next week. But Maxi is fine. There has been no setback, it may have taken a little longer than originally thought, but no major setback. We have to be careful with hamstring injuries.’
Saint-Maximin’s future at the club remains in doubt and if a bid comes through this summer there is a good chance he will be sold.
Allan Saint-Maximin will miss Newcastle’s crunch clash with Tottenham this weekend
It was hoped the striker would be fit enough to make the bench, but he will not return from injury in time
However, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has maintained there is no setback with the issue
Howe sees the value in the player this season and before his last injury he had put in better performances. The problem is that he cannot be trusted to stay fit and in shape over a long period of time.
Without him, Newcastle struggled for inspiration in the final third at Villa Park and the 3-0 defeat was their biggest of the season. However, the head coach is adamant that his team is not feeling the pressure in their pursuit of Champions League football.
“All season I’ve seen a group that is very strong mentally, that has been tested in all kinds of different ways,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of different experiences – the cup race, Premier League form, big league games and they’ve responded well. I don’t see any signs that the team can’t handle that (pressure to secure European football).
“We have a lot of experience in the squad to manage the team at key moments. I think we’re equipped. I think we have what we need, we just have to show it on the pitch.”