Steve Bruce has confirmed that Allan Saint-Maximin is 100 per cent fit to play in Newcastle United’s upcoming Premier League clash against Manchester United at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Saint-Maximin, 22, has experienced a disjointed start to this Newcastle career having suffered from a thigh injury since his summer switch from OGC Nice.
The French attacker has started just one game so far for the Magpies and his 23-minute-long debut off the bench against Arsenal on the opening day of the season is still his longest contribution on the pitch in a Newcastle shirt.
However Bruce has confirmed that after Saint-Maximin remained an unused substitute in the 5-0 loss at Leicester last week, the former Monaco winger is back to full speed.
“Last week, when it went to 3-0, I decided to bring on (DeAndre) Yedlin rather than him, because it’s been still grumbling with him. I decided to give him an extra week training, which he’s had. That has dispelled everything now, and he’s 100% fit,” said Bruce, as quoted by the Shields Gazette.
OPINION
Saint-Maximin’s start to life at St James’ Park has been very frustrating for everyone. Fans have seen in brief glimpses that he can be an exciting player to watch but injury has hampered his time on the pitch. Bruce is likely to point to injuries as one of the reasons why Newcastle have started the new season so poorly. It’s not an excuse, but the fact that Saint-Maximin, and others, have barely played is an issue that needs to be considered when assessing the side’s start to the campaign. It will be interesting to see if the Magpies’ summer signing can have much of an impact against Man United on Sunday. While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team in breaking records for all the wrong reasons with their results away from Old Trafford, Newcastle are hardly a team that is going to give them many problems. Saint-Maximin’s pace and skill on the wing could provide an outlet when it comes to counter attacks.
