Eddie Howe has stressed that Newcastle United can win games without Allan Saint-Maximin - even if there is 'no one' like the Frenchman in the Premier League.
Newcastle sorely felt the absence of their injured talisman once again in the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth at St James' Park on Saturday. Newcastle may have hit the woodwork twice and had 20 shots, eight corners and 73% possession, but the Magpies lacked the X-Factor that Saint-Maximin would have provided against the Cherries' low block.
Saint-Maximin has been directly involved in 38% of Newcastle's league goals this season and the mercurial forward's ability to dribble past a defender and pull a rabbit out of the hat have certainly been missed. In fact, Howe's side have picked up just two points from a possible nine in recent weeks without Saint-Maximin after he suffered a hamstring injury last month.
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Newcastle could do with having Saint-Maximin back for the Magpies' next game against Fulham after the international break, but it is not clear if the 24-year-old will be fit after he suffered a minor setback in his recovery. Newcastle, as a result, may have to find a way of winning without Saint-Maximin once more.
“You’re never going to replace Allan, so you have to find a different way," Howe told reporters. "We’ve got players with different skills and different strengths in those positions.
"I still believe we can win without him. I still believe we can be a very effective team without him. It’s just very different.
"You saw his performance against Manchester City - there’s no one like him in the Premier League. He’s a very unique player and he brings those gifts to the team that, on a day like today, you’re absolutely crying out for, but we just have to improve. We have to be better."
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