Scott Parker has told talkSPORT that injuries for Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin have masked the ‘fantastic’ job Steve Bruce has done as Newcastle United manager.
The Bournemouth head coach believes the pair’s influence has dictated results whenever Bruce is without either. Parker notes how Newcastle were able to turn their season around last term once both were fit to secure survival.
Wilson moved to St James’ Park last September for £20m and ended the campaign as their top-scorer with 12 goals. But he missed 10 games through two hamstring injuries, and has already missed three this term with a thigh problem.
Saint-Maximin also sat out nine fixtures last season after testing positive for coronavirus and later sustaining a knee injury. The 24-year-old is yet to miss any Premier League games this term after playing the full 90-minutes in all six.
Has Bruce done a ‘fantastic’ job at Newcastle?
Wilson had scored twice in his three Premier League appearances this season before going off against Southampton injured. Saint-Maximin, meanwhile, has two goals and three assists, with his efforts pivotal to Newcastle’s three draws and their only points.
Bruce will be desperate to have both Wilson and Saint-Maximin playing to get Newcastle going, as Parker notes their importance. The former Fulham head coach also notes how the Magpies boss has done a good job, in what can be a challenging place for a manager.
“It’s a difficult city in that sense, it’s a one club city,” Parker noted. “It’s an intense place to play and an amazing place at the same time, there is no in-between. I experienced that when I was there, it’s either fantastic or it’s the other way, it’s the end in the terms of worst-case.
“It’s a fantastic club, probably a little bit at times needs to have a real realism about it to really push on. But I also understand the commitment that everyone there is showing, in terms of the fans and stuff like that.
“But I think Steve has done a fantastic job there, I honestly do. Last year, there was talk that it would be us [Fulham] and them at the bottom end and we were the last game to kick-off. Steve kept saying he was without Wilson, without Saint-Maximin. Those boys come in and it took them off to 12th and they finished 12th and that probably says a lot.”
Have Wilson and Saint-Maximin absences masked Bruce’s efforts?
Newcastle only took two wins in 12 top-flight games without Wilson last season, and they came in the final two. They also only won two in 13 without Saint-Maximin, but won seven of 16 when both were on the pitch.
That drastic difference suggests Parker is right to note how important Saint-Maximin and Wilson are to Bruce and Newcastle performing. But Bruce needs to find solutions to take wins when either are absent, as well.
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