Eddie Howe has admitted that the hamstring injury picked up by Jamal Lewis looks like a “bad” one.
The left-back pulled up less than 15 minutes into last night’s 3-1 defeat at Liverpool, forcing Howe into an early change.
Speaking after the game, Howe’s comments suggest we won’t be seeing the former Norwich star again this year, meaning both he and Federico Fernandez (thigh) look set to miss our festive fixtures against Man City, Man Utd and Everton at the very least.
Here’s what Howe had to say after the game:
“It looks bad and it looks like a hamstring problem.
“I’m surprised because he’s so athletic and he’s been excellent in his athletic work.
“It was damaging to us to lose a sub so early on.
“I thought Matt Ritchie was fantastic in his place.”
A real shame for Lewis, who was just starting to cement his place in the side after solid displays against Norwich and Burnley.
Howe was right to praise Ritchie, who did OK in the circumstances against Mo Salah, however it’s fair to say he is NOT a left-back – especially in a four-man defence!
Elsewhere, the NUFC boss offered no update on Saint-Maximin’s withdrawal, with him signalling to the bench that he could not continue with 10 minutes remaining at Anfield.
Let’s hope that’s just a knock he can shake off, not a new muscle injury for the Frenchman.
