Allan Saint-Maximin to miss Newcastle’s crunch clash with Tottenham and remain in France

Allan Saint-Maximin to miss Newcastle’s crunch clash with Tottenham and remain in France for treatment on a hamstring injury… but Eddie Howe insists there has been NO setback despite hopes he would be fit

  • Saint-Maximin was set to return to Tyneside this week ahead of the Spurs game
  • The issue is just the latest in a string of injuries during his time at the club
  • Howe insisted the issue has ‘taken longer than initially thought’ to recover from

Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin remains in France for treatment on a hamstring injury and will miss Sunday’s crucial visit of Tottenham – but Eddie Howe insists there has been no setback.

The 26-year-old was due on Tyneside this week and there was hope he could make the bench for the fourth-versus-fifth showdown, having been allowed to return to his homeland for specialist treatment last week.

Saint-Maximin was a big miss as Newcastle’s five-match winning run came to an end at Aston Villa on Saturday, and there is no clarity as to when he’ll be available.

Howe said: ‘He’s not back in the country yet. We will see him early next week. But Maxi’s fine. There hasn’t been a setback, it’s just taken maybe a little bit longer than initially thought, but no major setback. With hamstring injuries, we have to be careful.’

Saint-Maximin’s future at the club remains in doubt and, should an offer materialise this summer, there is a likelihood he will be sold. 

Allan Saint-Maximin is set to miss Newcastle’s crunch clash with Tottenham this weekend

It was hoped that the forward would be fit enough to make the bench but he won't return from injury in time

It was hoped that the forward would be fit enough to make the bench but he won’t return from injury in time

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, however, has insisted there's been no setback with the issue

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, however, has insisted there’s been no setback with the issue

Howe sees the value in the player this season and, before his latest injury, he had enjoyed a better run of performances. The problem is that he cannot be relied upon to stay fit – and in form – for any lengthy period.

Without him, Newcastle struggled for inspiration in the final third at Villa Park and the 3-0 loss was their biggest of the season. However, the head coach is adamant his team are not feeling the pressure in their pursuit of Champions League football.

‘All season I’ve seen a group that has been very strong mentally, that has been tested in all sorts of different ways,’ he said. ‘We’ve had loads of different experiences – the cup run, Premier League form, big league games and they have responded well. I don’t see any signs that the squad is not coping with that (pressure to secure European football).

‘We have a lot of experience in the squad driving the team at key moments. I think we are equipped. I think we have what we need, we just need to show that on the pitch.’



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