STEVE BRUCE has suffered a fresh blow as Allan Saint-Maximin has been ruled out for a month at Newcastle United.
The mercurial winger has been in good form of late as the Magpies have climbed out of relegation trouble.
Saint-Maximin limped off in the final stages of the win over SouthamptonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Fears were raised when the Frenchman was forced to hobble off in the closing stages of Sunday’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Southampton at St James’ Park.
Bruce admitted that he’d be “kicking himself” if the injury was serious, having not rotated Saint-Maximin despite Newcastle’s gruelling run of fixtures.
And Sky Sports believe that the injury will keep Saint-Maximin out until mid-January.
This means that the 22-year-old is likely to miss as many as six matches over the busy Christmas period.
While he has only started nine of Newcastle’s 16 Premier League games so far this season, Saint-Maximin has become a cult figure at St James’ Park.
His electrifying runs with the ball, coupled with his entertaining social media presence, have endeared him to the Geordie faithful.
And he had just hit a rich vein of form, bagging his first goal for the club in the impressive 2-0 win at Sheffield United last Thursday.
But Bruce will now have to do without one of his very few exciting attacking options.
Saint-Maximin will miss key clashes with Crystal Palace and Burnley, as well as the Boxing Day trip to Old Trafford.
He is then still likely to be unavailable when the Toon Army play Everton in their final match of 2018, as well as games against Leicester and Wolves in the new year.
Bruce will likely have to turn to Christian Atsu in Saint-Maximin’s absence.
Newcastle currently sit 11th – seven points above the relegation zone.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
