Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin has reassured fans he is fine after being helped off the field at half-time in the 1-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday.
The Frenchman was in clear pain as he hobbled down the tunnel but returned in the second half and played a vital role in Matty Longstaff’s winning goal at St James’ Park.
Saint-Maximin has already missed part of this season with a recurring hamstring problem, which forced him off the field in the Magpies only other victory against Tottenham earlier in the season.
Despite that, the 22-year-old insisted that he has the international break to recover and that he is delighted with the progress he has made in the North East since picking up the injury earlier in the summer.
“I had a little bit of pain when I jumped, but after they did some massage and I was stronger,” he told the Shields Gazette.
“I wanted to come back on the pitch. I have a little bit of pain, but I have two weeks to do a good recovery. I’m happy.”
OPINION
Saint-Maximin makes a clear difference to this Newcastle side when he is playing, and many Magpies’ fans will have been fearing the worst when he looked in agony when leaving the field at half-time on Sunday. Given the fact that he has already missed games this season, the first thoughts would have instantly switched to the fact that he could have suffered a similar setback which would force him into another spell on the sideline. The 22-year-old is one of the only players who can offer Bruce the blistering pace his side is crying out for, add that to his skill when on the ball and he is a real danger for opposing sides. Saint-Maximin has completed 5.8 successful dribbles per 90 minutes according to WhoScored and is pivotal to any hopes the Magpies have of progressing under Steve Bruce in this campaign. The French winger has been outstanding and all Newcastle fans will be delighted that he appears in a position to continue that form after the international break, which has certainly come at the right time for him.
