Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has commented on the injuries to Allan Saint-Maximin and Jamal Lewis after the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
Howe offered a better early prognosis on the French winger than on the Northern Irish international, although said he was awaiting more information on both.
Lewis only lasted 15 minutes before he was replaced by Matt Ritchie while Saint-Maximin played most of the game before he was replaced by Callum Wilson.
When asked at his post-match press conference about Saint-Maximin, Howe said: “He took a really nasty tackle.
“I don’t know if the injury is related to that tackle or more muscular. I’ve got no idea. I did try and speak to him when he came off but didn’t manage to get a clear communication. Fingers crossed, he’s such a big player for us, we don’t want to lose him for any length of time.
On Lewis, he said: “It looks bad. It looks like a hamstring problem. I’m surprised with Jamal because he’s obviously so athletic and he’s been excellent in terms of his athletic work for us so far.
“It’s not the time of year for us to lose players and fingers crossed it’s only Jamal that will probably go into the Christmas period in any doubt, but we have to check on one or two players.”
It looks like Lewis faces a period of weeks out on the sidelines, which is disappointing because he has been a strong performer since Howe came in.
A long absence for Saint-Maximin would be devastating but the early signs are that Howe is not expecting that to be the case.
Fixture cancellations across the league could mean teams like Newcastle are playing frequently while other clubs go into games having not played for a while.
Manchester United’s next game is due to be against Newcastle, and by the time that game comes around on the 27th, it will have been 16 days since their last match.
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