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Steve Bruce faces decision over who steps up in Allan Saint-Maximin’s absence

Newcastle United travel to Turf Moor to face Burnley this weekend, with the hosts having lost three games on the bounce. Though unfortunate news for Newcastle this week came in the form of star man Allan Saint-Maximin sustaining a hamstring tear that will keep him out of action until the New Year. While Jonjo Shelvey and Miguel Almiron are both doubts but could yet make the starting eleven. Magpies manager Steve Bruce has a dilemma to chose who will replace the injured Frenchman in the starting line-up, and the two most likely options are Dwight Gayle or Christian Atsu.

Neither have been offered many Premier League starts this season, though will a glut of fixtures on the horizon, this will be their opportunity to convince Bruce they deserve to feature more frequently. Atsu has made 13 appearances, though nine of those have been as a substitute, while Gayle has been introduced from the bench on four occasions. Both are yet to score but what the Ghanaian winger does have in his favour is that he has provided three assists this campaign, while Gayle has not registered a single one.

Further indications that Atsu will be the man to start are that he has won more aerials this season, a crucial aspect of Newcastle’s game and he has a higher pass success rate. Meanwhile, Atsu has registered 0.8 key passes per match while Gayle is yet to play any. Damning the English strikers’ chances even further are that he has not had a single shot in the 45 minutes of action he has been involved in for the Magpies since returning from his successful West Brom loan last term.

Based on this evidence, it is unlikely that Gayle will feature, unless Almiron is also unable to start, in which case Bruce’s hand may be forced. Atsu has been trusted by his manager more often this season and delivered when called upon.

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