Lucy Ward has criticised Allan Saint-Maximin for not working ‘hard enough’ for Newcastle United at Nottingham Forest. Eddie Howe substituted the forward at half-time this Friday.
The Toon claimed a 2-1 win at the City Ground after a 90+3 minute penalty from Alexander Isak. He had already scored one stoppage-time goal, as well, after equalising on 45+2. The relegation-threatened Reds had taken the lead on 26 minutes through Emmanuel Dennis.
Isak started at Nottingham Forest in a Newcastle front three also featuring Saint-Maximin and Jacob Murphy. But Howe felt forced to replace Saint-Maximin at the break with Elliot Anderson entering the game. He later stated, via Chronicle Live, he had a hamstring injury.
Why did Howe substitute Saint-Maximin at Nottingham Forest?
Saint-Maximin carried a tight hamstring into Newcastle’s trip to Nottingham Forest, which Howe felt restricted his performance and necessitated being substituted. The 26-year-old struggled to stamp his mark of the match outside of a few potentially threatening charges.
His most-telling contribution to the Magpies’ trip to the City Ground helped toward Isak’s equalising effort. Saint-Maximin combined well with Fabian Schar to free Joe Willock, who crossed into the Sweden international. Isak would strike a superb volley home off the post.
Ward is the second pundit in days to question the Newcastle star’s work rate
Saint-Maximin made just his ninth start of the Premier League season as Newcastle won at Nottingham Forest on Friday. But he is now 14 appearances without a goal and 11 without an assist. The forward last hit home back on August 28 and created a goal on November 6.
An earlier hamstring injury helped toward Saint-Maximin’s struggles this season. He picked up the issue in August and struggled to displace Joelinton to return to Howe’s starting line-up. But the £16.5m, rising to £20m, Frenchman has been a regular starter since February.
Now, his efforts as a starter have come into question again. Jose Enrique questioned Saint-Maximin earlier in the week as he ‘doesn’t work hard enough to press and to defend’. This time, former England forward Ward has called Saint-Maximin out for his poor work rate.
Ward told talkSPORT (17/03, 21:05). “He didn’t work hard enough and I suspect that’s why he’s been taken off.”
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