Steve Bruce has a problem to solve, and unfortunately for him, there are no immediate answers.
Newcastle have failed to win a game this season without Allan Saint-Maximin in the side, during the four games he’s missed the Magpies have lost three and drawn one. After arriving in the summer, the French winger has immediately cemented his place as one of, if not the, most essential members of the Newcastle squad.
Saint-Maximin, valued £22.5m (Transfermarkt), is critical to Bruce’s tactical setup because the winger can dribble at full flight, bursting forward to relieve pressure after the Magpies have been sitting deep and soaking it up when opposition attack. Even though he has not provided much of a goal threat, scoring just once without registering an assist, the Frenchman’s ability to carry Newcastle up the pitch alone makes him an incredibly valuable asset.
The main issue for Bruce is that he will be without the enigmatic winger until January at the earliest. When he has been present this season, Newcastle have scored on average 1.4 goals per game, but without his attacking influence that drops to 0.4. But the statistic the ex-Sunderland boss will find most concerning is that when the Frenchman starts they average two points per game compared to 0.3 when he isn’t available.
While replacement Christian Atsu is quick, it is unlikely he can match the 23-year-old’s top speed of 22.87mph, and he does not complete as many successful dribbles. Few people in Europe do – so far this season only Lionel Messi, Neymar and Wilfred Zaha have recorded a higher number of dribbles per game than Saint-Maximin’s 4.5. While he is also ninth for progressive runs per 90 minutes, which is defined as carrying the ball considerably forward.
It is easy to understand why Newcastle have struggled substantially in the winger’s absence, but with him expected to be out for at least the next three fixtures a new game plan will need to be devised. Atsu and Miguel Almiron are able to do what the Frenchman excels at, though neither as successfully, but perhaps the winger’s absence will require the Magpies to start attacking as a unit rather than a trio of individuals.
