LASCELLES AND SAINT-MAXIMIN HAVE ‘LONG COVID’ BUT BRUCE EYES CUP SUCCESS
NEWCASTLE captain Jamaal Lascelles and Allan SaintMaximin are the two players suffering from ‘long-term Covid’ after the club’s mass outbreak. Steve Bruce revealed on Friday that he was concerned for the health of two of his squad, though he did not name them. But the club has now confirmed the identity of Lascelles and Saint-Maximin after internet rumours of the pair being involved in a bust-up with Bruce circulated over the weekend. Newcastle say this is not the case and their absence is explained by the after-effects of Covid-19.
Bruce had said: ‘My thoughts are with the two players, and the welfare of them. It’s frightening when you think they are young and fit and absolutely supreme athletes. If anybody needs reminding of how serious this is, then we have witnessed it. ‘We’ve had vomiting, sores, mouth ulcers, no smell, no taste, but the big thing, and which is worrying, is the welfare of one or two of them. Long-term Covid is something which you wouldn’t think possible in young, fit athletes. They go for a walk for half an hour and then they want to go back to bed. It’s as brutal as that.’ Lascelles was at St James’ Park to watch Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Fulham but he, like
Saint-Maximin (right), will miss this evening’s Carabao Cup quarter-final at Brentford. They are not set to return until the new year. Victory would take Newcastle into their first League Cup semi-final for 44 years. Bruce continues to take criticism from fans unhappy with displays, but he said: ‘I always expected it to be tough. Why wouldn’t it be when I have people like Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish ringing to tell me how tough it is? Do I think I’m going to come in here and wave a magic wand and say, “I’m going to put my sprinkle of stardust on it”? ‘That’s what it is, it’s a tough gig, so if I can take the club to a semi-final… but then you want to get to the final.’ Bruce, though, has not been impressed with recent displays. ‘We are going to have to play better than we have done in the last week,’ he said. Meanwhile, Brentford boss Thomas Frank believes Ivan Toney will want to prove Newcastle wrong tonight. The 24-year-old made just four appearances in three years for the Premier League side before dropping down the divisions.
After joining Brentford from Peterborough, he is the Championship’s top scorer with h 16 goals in 20 games. ‘There are always situations in all of our careers that inspire us s or irritate us enough to make sure we’re working hard to try to prove some people wrong,’ said Frank. ‘I know Ivan has big ambitions and he’d like to prove he could have played in the Premier League. He’ll play in the Premier League one way or r another, I’m not in doubt — with h his mentality, hunger and abilities. Maybe this is the route for him.’