Allan Saint Maximin back in Newcastle training as Steve Bruce admits: 'We're not quite the same without him'

Allan Saint-Maximin has finally returned to full training more than seven weeks after testing positive for Coronavirus with Steve Bruce pointing out he is just as important to Newcastle United as Wilfred Zaha is to Crystal Palace.

Saint-Maximin has suffered more than anyone from the Covid outbreak that closed Newcastle’s training ground for 10 days back in November and was unable to do any sort of physical exercise while he recovered from the virus.

That fatigue is finally easing, and Bruce hopes the 23-year-old will be fit enough to play by the start of February. Newcastle have missed him, having won just twice in his absence and go to Arsenal on Monday on a run of eight games without a victory.

“No matter who you are,” said Bruce. “If you're missing arguably your most creative player at the top end of the pitch, of course you're going to find it difficult. It’s as simple as that.

“He can give you a spark, he can give you a lift. Have we become over-reliant? We've been without him for weeks, so I can't really answer that.

“Have we missed him? One hundred per cent, yes, of course, because he can give us something, that spark in the last third. And playing on the counter attack, we're not quite the same when he's not in the team.”

Newcastle have not been the same side since the Covid outbreak and Bruce is under mounting pressure after the defeat at Sheffield United.

“They are absolutely goosed, some of them,” added Bruce. "That becomes the problem [with Covid.]

“All of a sudden the canteen [at the training ground] is closing, we might be thinking about dressing rooms closing. All of this, where the protocols are very difficult to adhere to.

“We can’t have team meetings, we can’t have a video analysis meeting. We can’t do this, we can’t do that. The most difficult thing for me is not the protocols, we were struck down a month ago and we are still suffering.

“It’s not just as straightforward as you’re getting tested and you’re positive, or you’re isolating for five days and you’re all right.”

Arteta praises 'phenomenal' Xhaka

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised Granit Xhaka for his “phenomenal” response to his red card against Burnley last month. Xhaka was sent off for violent conduct as Arsenal’s season threatened to spiral out of control, but he has been a key part of their recent resurgence after returning to the midfield.

Xhaka is making a habit of personal comebacks, having looked destined to leave the club after he was stripped of the captaincy following a public fallout with the supporters last season.

“After the red card and with the history that he had, he was in a difficult place and we had to try to bring him back to a place where we believe he can be and where he should be, which is to be one of the leaders of the team,” said Arteta.

“Since he’s been back he’s been phenomenal. He’s been playing really, really well. He’s still young and he’s a player who can still evolve.”