Newcastle’s victory over Southampton was blighted by injuries to Ciaran Clark and Allan Saint-Maximin, with fans particularly concerned that the latter may be sidelined for a while.
The winger has been in fine form for the Magpies in recent weeks, even grabbing his first goal for the club a few days ago in the victory over Sheffield United.
He possesses a threat that too few Newcastle players can boast of, constantly acting as a danger to the opposition with his trickery and direct style, averaging 4.5 successful dribbles per game.
A football legend: Can you get over 80% on this Gazza quiz? Find out now…
It is little surprise, therefore, that some supporters are concerned that his absence could contribute to a downturn in form, with one fan urging the board to invest as a result.
While hamstring injuries are always a risk with quick players who put a lot of intensity into their sprints, it seems many point the finger of blame at Steve Bruce for playing him so often.
There were just two days between Newcastle’s previous game and as a result it was always asking a lot of the same individuals to feature in both matches, and the Frenchman’s injury may have occurred as a result.
It may have made more sense for Miguel Almiron to have stayed on, allowing Saint-Maximin some much-needed rest, as now it is possible he will not take to the pitch for a few weeks at least.
After the Saints match some fans also reacted to Jetro Willems’ own admission that his performance was not up to standard.
