Injury and illness can’t be blamed
WHENEVER a side is struggling in football, you can bet bad luck stories are never too far away.
When things aren’t going right, it often feels that the footballing gods can turn against you to rub salt into the wounds.
Managers and players will roll out the usual platitudes of not using injuries etc as an excuse, but the very fact they’ve mentioned them usually shows they are doing just that.
When it comes to Newcastle United, there’s no doubt injuries and the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak in the squad in December has had a massive impact on their season.
Key players have missed large chunks of the season through injury, and the long-lasting effects of contracting coronavirus, which has had hugely detrimental consequences for the Magpies.
Is it therefore fair to pin United’s struggles this season on their injury and illness issues? No, most certainly not.
At a push, it could be a reason why they have been unable to build on last season’s mid-table finish and break into the Premier League top 10.
But a reason why they are currently engaged in a relegation battle? No chance.
United brought just four players to the club in the summer - Callum Wilson, Ryan Fraser, Jamal Lewis and Jeff Hendrick and Joe Willock on loan in January. But only Wilson has made a significant impact to the side so far.
Understandably they have missed his goals and overall contribution to the side during his recent injury, and they’ve yet to win a game without him in the starting XI, but don’t forget they finished 13th last season without him.
Saint-Maximin played 25 Premier League games for Newcastle last season - if he returns for the final nine matches he will match that total this term.
Of course Covid had a disruptive effect, with training cancelled and more fixtures to fit in, but it’s not just Newcastle who have suffered from the virus.
So by all means point to absences as a reason why Newcastle are not pushing for a spot in the top 10 - but let’s not have anyone suggest they are to blame for United finding themselves in another relegation dogfight.