Medical insider: Eddie Howe playing ‘PR’ games with latest Allan Saint-Maximin- Newcastle update
Eddie Howe is not revealing the whole truth about Allan Saint-Maximin and he could return for Newcastle United against Aston Villa next week (29 October).
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.
As quoted by the Athletic earlier this week (18 October), Howe claimed he “hoped” Saint-Maximin would return before the break for the World Cup next month.
The 25-year-old has only played once since the end of August and has recently suffered a further setback in training.
“It’s easy to get caught up with the media narrative as to what’s going on,” Dinnery told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“This latest issue is very minor. It’s more of an irritation than a full-blown tear or strain.
“Ordinarily it would be one where you would take him out of training and reduce his load for seven or 10 days. Then they can reintroduce him.
“He’s already coming off the back of a hamstring problem where he has already suffered a decent reaction and reinjury. The club is being uber cautious in regard to this.
“I would fully expect Saint-Maximin to be involved before the World Cup. It’s one of those ones that they assess gameweek to gameweek.
“Hamstring problems have a high reoccurrence rate, particularly with the likes of Saint-Maximin with his style of play, the explosive pace and quick turns of direction. There is a lot of force going through his legs and that’s why they cannot afford any corner-cutting.
“It’s just the club being super cautious in his management.
“Clubs are very clever these days in terms of their PR. Under promise and over-deliver. Don’t put any pressure on the player’s timeframe.
“If you say it’s mid-November then if he returns within seven to 10 days then everyone’s happy. Supporters are hailing the medical department and calling Saint-Maximin a warrior and a robot. It’s a bit of a game.
“In terms of the injury itself, it’s nothing too serious.”
In other news, “money is no object” to Newcastle United as a £200million deal is on the cards.