Newcastle United’s Brazilian beast Joelinton has served his two-game suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards and is likely to be restored to the line-up to face Manchester United on Sunday at the expense of Allan Saint-Maximin.
Joelinton‘s return could spell bad news for Allan Saint-Maximin who has started the last two games in place of the 26-year-old battling midfielder.
Saint-Maximin‘s performances in those two games were night and day. His first outing against Wolves was one of the best we’ve seen from him since Eddie Howe arrived at Newcastle. His link-up play with Alexander Isak was a joy to behold. They looked like they’d been playing together for years. Isak’s movement seemed to give Saint-Maximin the outlet he’s been craving.
Saint-Maximin looked reborn against Wolves
Instead of trying to beat one man too many, Maxi was releasing the ball early to find Isak as he set off on a defence-splitting runs. Maxi looked reborn.
However, a week later at Nottingham Forest, Maxi was so poor that he was replaced at half-time. Howe later said that he was playing with a hamstring issue and that’s why he switched him into the middle of the park so he didn’t have to run as much. It was a move that paid off as Isak bagged his first goal while pushed out to the left.
However, the reactions on the touchline from Graeme Jones and Jason Tindall seemingly aimed towards Saint-Maximin which were picked up by the Sky Sports cameras suggested they were very displeased with his contribution. So when Howe made the excuse about his hamstring, many fans speculated that he was just saying that to deflect the ire from Saint-Maximin.
Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff have the middle of the park pretty much nailed down at the moment, so if Joelinton is to return to the fray he’s likely going to be used on the left side of the attack in place of Saint-Maximin.
Joelinton and Anthony Gordon will be ahead of ASM in the pecking order
To further complicate matters, Anthony Gordon seems to be winning his race to be fit for Sunday too, so even if Joelinton isn’t brought back in, Saint-Maximin’s place is still very much under threat by the £45million man.
My feeling is, and has been for a while, that it’s not just his place in Sunday’s starting line-up that’s under threat at Newcastle but his entire career on Tyneside. While there are reports around suggesting that he’s very highly thought of within the club, his play style is very much at odds to that which Eddie Howe demands from his team.
It’s therefore widely believed that his time at St James’ Park may becoming to an end. Tottenham have been credited with an interest in the French winger. He’s definitely got talent, he’s proven that time and time again, it’s just a question of him not fitting the style. He seems to be struggling to adapt to Howe’s way and with Newcastle looking to push on, we can’t afford to be carrying players who don’t pull their weight.
Whether it be this summer or beyond, it will be a sad day when Saint-Maximin goes, for sure. He’s developed a superb bond with the Toon Army and we’ll never forget the brilliant things he’s done for us, but we can’t keep players around for sentimental reasons.
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