Micah Richards believes Newcastle United are too ‘laboured’ in the absence of Allan Saint-Maximin in their side. Saint-Maximin has missed the last three matches with a hamstring injury, with the Magpies having failed to win in each of them.
The Frenchman had been enjoying an excellent start to the season in the Premier League, netting once and providing a further two assists in the first four. Saint-Maximin provides a threat that no one else in Eddie Howe’s squad really can, with his trickery, pace and ability to beat defenders key to the way Newcastle play.
Newcastle have managed just two goals in the three games Saint Maximin has been absent, one of which came from the penalty spot. In the four games prior, Howe’s side found the back of the net on six occasions, highlighting just how much he is missed when he is absent.
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Richards was discussing Newcastle’s draw with Bournemouth on the Football Daily Podcast, and thinks their build-up play was far too slow, something which Saint-Maximin would’ve helped with.
He said: “Newcastle, they miss Saint-Maximin. When they were going forward it was too slow, they got into some really good areas but it was just too laboured.
“It was almost like they expected to just turn up today and win this game, but they needed a little bit more ideas, little bit more creativity and little bit more urgency on the counter-attack. They definitely miss Saint-Maximin.”
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