To the shock of every Newcastle United fan, Allan Saint-Maximin didn’t start against Burnley.
It was an immediate blow for the Magpies, who have been looking to the Frenchman for inspiration more and more in recent weeks.
However, Steve Bruce explained after the game that it wasn’t a tactical decision. In fact, he was carrying an injury.
“I didn’t think he [Allan Saint-Maximin] was right all week in training,” he told the club’s official website.
“On Thursday he was a little bit sore around his hamstring. That’s always going to be the case with him. In that respect it was an easy decision [not to start him].”
Saint-Maximin came on in the 78th minute for Joelinton, a substitution which was met with the biggest roar of the day.
The winger showcased a few moments of brilliance from the left, as he looked to provide the spark Newcastle had been missing.
He had one shot at goal, but his low drive was comfortably saved by Nick Pope.
While he nearly helped provide a winner, he was a massive miss. Newcastle looked a bit better offensively today, but still lacked quality in the final third.
Here’s hoping Saint-Maximin is fit and ready to start on Tuesday night in the FA Cup.
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