MX23RW : Friday, December 13 20:29:54| >> :120:5106:5106:

Allan Saint-Maximin suffered injury during fastest ever sprint by Newcastle player

The 22-year-old tore his hamstring late in the win over Southampton.

Newcastle frontman Allan Saint-Maximin was sprinting at almost 37kmph when he suffered the hamstring tear which is likely to sideline him for a month.

Magpies head coach Steve Bruce has revealed the statistics show the pacy 22-year-old Frenchman clocked 36.8kmph – or 22.87mph – in the dying seconds of Sunday's 2-1 Premier League victory over Southampton, the fastest speed recorded by a Newcastle player.

Bruce said: "He pulled his hamstring doing 36.8kmph in the 96th minute – I don't think anybody has run that fast (for Newcastle) in the Premier League ever before, so what can you do? He ran 30, 40, 50 yards to chase it. It was proper sprinting. In the 96th minute.

"It's what we always say: a football player can play every day of the week no problem, they train every day of the week. However, they can't play with that intensity and once they're fatigued, then you do run the risk.

"Look, we'll kick ourselves, but unfortunately, these things happen."

Saint-Maximin has been a key figure in Newcastle's recent improvement having played his part in a 2-2 draw with champions Manchester City and the back-to-back wins over Sheffield United and the Saints which have followed it.

However, he will play no part at Burnley on Saturday and is expected to be missing until the new year with a grade-two tear, and that has come as a huge blow to both the player and the club.

Bruce said: "We all know he's got lightning pace. He's sometimes quick with it (the ball), which is the hardest of the lot.

"He's got such a low centre of gravity. He does things in training which you can't coach. We will miss him, he's been terrific. However, it is what it is.

"He is a maverick and was playing very well. He knew that, all of a sudden, he was becoming a bit of a favourite. But it's someone else's opportunity."

Saint-Maximin's misfortune will force Bruce into a reshuffle which could see Andy Carroll start at Turf Moor and perhaps mean struggling fellow striker Joelinton switches to the wider role he occupied at previous club Hoffenheim.

"It's an option," admitted Bruce, who has injury doubts over Jonjo Shelvey and Miguel Almiron.

ID:382872: cacheID:382872:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3796:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Jay Rodriguez in action for Burnley in pre-season on July 30, 2019
Read Next:
Jay Rodriguez fit to face Newcastle
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Rams
@
49ers
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd20135228111742
2Leeds UnitedLeeds20125336142241
3Burnley2010822471738
4Sunderland20107329151437
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn1910452317634
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2071122314932
7Middlesbrough209473425931
8Watford199462725231
9Swansea CitySwansea207672119227
10Norwich CityNorwich206863530526
11Bristol City206862525026
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds207582329-626
13Millwall196762017325
14Preston North EndPreston2041062026-622
15Luton TownLuton2064102335-1222
16Coventry CityCoventry205692529-421
17Derby CountyDerby205692226-421
18Stoke CityStoke205692126-521
19Queens Park RangersQPR204972026-621
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd194692030-1018
21Portsmouth183872130-917
22Cardiff CityCardiff1945101730-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth1945101940-2117
24Hull City2037101828-1016


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!