If any game was crying out for a swish of Allan Saint-Maximin’s magical right boot – a ‘rabbit-out-of-the-hat’ moment from the magic man of St James’ Park – it was Newcastle United’s 1-1 draw at home to AFC Bournemouth on the final Premier League weekend before September’s international break.
Eddie Howe’s side dominated 73 per cent of the possession. They mustered 20 shots to 10. Seven hit the target. But, still, Newcastle found themselves an Alexander Isak penalty away from defeat against a Bournemouth side who were merely hoping to avoid double-figures at Liverpool a couple of weeks ago.
Despite the progress Newcastle have made since the Saudi Arabian takeover, they are still a long way from their destination; a sluggish start to 2022/23 a pothole in this otherwise gold-paved road.
The ‘richest football club in the world’ they may be. But Newcastle with Ryan Fraser, Chris Wood, Miguel Almiron and Sean Longstaff feels like a Ferrari with a Volvo engine.
Could Ryan Fraser be on his way out of at Newcastle United?
Howe took time to praise Fraser for a ‘decent’ performance against the club he left amid such controversy two years ago. But the difference – and the drop-off – between a Newcastle side with Fraser one with Saint-Maximin is stark. You could say the same about Wood and Wilson. Longstaff and Guimaraes, for instance. Newcastle are, to put it simply, a couple of injuries away from mid-table mediocrity again.
But with The Athletic reporting that Newcastle are already drawing up plans to bring in a new wide forward or two in the January transfer window, Fraser certainly feels like the man with the most to lose. Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby is reportedly back on the radar. Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mykhaylo Mudryk is another option
Almiron, thanks to his relentless endeavour, remains a favourite of Howe. Fraser, however, has underwhelmed in Saint-Maximin’s absence. Even his former Bournemouth boss has been unable to coax the mercurial talent out of a player who’s outstanding 2018/19 campaign (seven goals and 14 Premier League assists) now feels like a long time ago. Fraser, rather than Almiron, is most likely to make way for a new arrival.
Newcastle still have ten league games remaining before the New Year. Saint-Maximin’s ongoing fitness problems mean Fraser could keep his place away at Fulham on October 1st. Time is still on his side.
But with Newcastle already looking ahead to January, Fraser appears to be on borrowed time.
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