MX23RW : Thursday, December 19 07:12:17| >> :120:19799:19799:

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
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd21145230111945
2Leeds UnitedLeeds21126337152242
3Burnley2111822681841
4Sunderland21117332171540
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2011452517837
6Middlesbrough21104735251034
7Watford2010462926334
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2171132416832
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds218582630-429
10Swansea CitySwansea217682322127
11Bristol City216962626027
12Norwich CityNorwich216873632426
13Millwall206772018225
14Derby CountyDerby216692626024
15Coventry CityCoventry216692730-324
16Preston North EndPreston2141162127-623
17Stoke CityStoke215792328-522
18Queens Park RangersQPR2141072127-622
19Luton TownLuton2164112337-1422
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2046102133-1218
21Cardiff CityCardiff2046101932-1318
22Portsmouth193882134-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2045111942-2317
24Hull City2137111930-1116


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!