According to Steve Bruce, Allan Saint-Maximin could be out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury.
The winger left the Southampton game on crutches, and now we face a tough winter period without our strongest attacker.
The first test is against Burnley, where Bruce might also be without Miguel Almiron. The Newcastle squad is being stretched to its limits, and the Saint-Maximin injury must serve as a reminder to the Newcastle board – we need depth in January.
While results have been positive on the pitch, Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley will have been licking their lips. Their manager is getting a tune out of his players, so probably won’t need any new recruits in January.
Wrong.
If Almiron isn’t passed fit to play Burnley, Bruce’s only fit winger will be Christian Atsu. With all due respect to the Ghanaian, you never quite know what you’re going to get from him. It’s almost a surprise whenever he comes up with something impressive like his assist against Tottenham.
If this Newcastle side is going to progress and move forward, it needs more depth – particularly in attack. We’ve been linked with the likes of Jarrod Bowen, who would be perfect in this scenario.
The more depth we have, the better players will have to perform to get a start. For too long, our forwards haven’t had to fight for a place in the starting XI because they know there’s no one on standby to take their place.
But it all comes down to the owner, who seems happy for Newcastle to keep chugging along without any real intent.
Injuries have proven that we need a couple of bodies in in January, but don’t be surprised if no one arrives.
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