Allan Saint-Maximin racing to be fit for Newcastle’s trip to Brentford

NEWCASTLE: Allan Saint-Maximin faces a race against time to be fit for Newcastle United’s trip to Brentford. The Magpies travel to the Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday looking to extend their Premier League unbeaten run to seven games. They made it a sequence of six with a dominant display against Champions League-chasing West Ham United last weekend, despite managing to claim just one point in East London.

And they did so without talisman Saint-Maximin, who has been getting treatment on a calf injury sustained in the win over Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa earlier this month. Head coach Eddie Howe has revealed that the Magpies will make a late call on whether the Frenchman is fit for the Bees clash, when Saint-Maximin returns from receiving treatment in France. On the injury situation, Howe said: “Not too much has changed with the lads who are out — Callum Wilson, Matt Ritchie, and others (Kieran Trippier).

“Maxi we will make a late call on. He has been away getting intensive treatment. We said when he got the injury it wouldn’t be long term, so we are keeping our fingers crossed on him.

“Ryan Fraser will be OK. He came off the pitch at West Ham, but it looks like he will be fine. We have had a bit of illness in the camp this week, but everyone should be fine,” he added.

Howe confirmed that Saint-Maximin has been working with a physio in Monaco to get back up to speed, having missed the London Stadium draw last week. “Allan has a relationship with a physio and clinic out there, so we thought it was best for him to go. He got a bang on the calf against Aston Villa.

“He has been away to get intensified, specialist treatment abroad. We felt that was the quickest way to get him fit. So, yeah, he is in a good place