Miles Starforth's analysis: Newcastle United without Allan Saint-Maximin and Joelinton as a winger

It could be a long few weeks for Newcastle United.
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Allan Saint-Maxmin, sidelined until the New Year, was a big miss at Turf Moor, where a more pedestrian Newcastle United, lacking his pace, were beaten 1-0 by Burnley this afternoon without having a shot on target.

Miguel Almiron, left out of the starting XI as a precaution after complaining of a tight hamstring, was also missed on a bitterly cold day in Lancashire.

The game itself was scrappy and punctuated by fouls.

Joelinton challenges Phil Bardsley.Joelinton challenges Phil Bardsley.
Joelinton challenges Phil Bardsley.
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Steve Bruce switched £40million summer signing Joelinton to the left in the absence of Saint-Maximin and recalled Andy Carroll. Bruce has long talked about Joeliton’s ability to play there, having seen him fielded on that flank for former club Hoffenheim, but the 23-year-old never really got into his stride at Turf Moor.

Joelinton had a very quiet game until he popped up on the right in the final few minutes to deliver a low cross for Dwight Gayle which the substitute somehow put wide of Nick Pope’s goal.

And Bruce will be counting the weeks until Saint-Maximin returns to his team.

United’s injury-hit head coach had made four changes for the game. Sean Longstaff, Fabian Schar and Christian Atsu were also recalled to the starting XI.

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The best opportunity of the first half fell to stand-in captain Carroll, who headed wide from an Isaac Hayden cross after getting ahead of Phil Bardsley.

Both teams tried to pick up the pace in the second half, and Burnley’s breakthrough came in the 58th minute when Chris Wood headed a disputed corner home at the far post at close range.

Martin Dubravka, not at fault for the goal, did well to stop a shot from Jack Cork with his leg

Newcastle pushed and pushed without creating much until Joelinton bundled Erik Pieters off the ball on the right and delivered a low cross for Gayle, who had replaced Jetro Willems.

United remain 11th in the Premier League table.

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NEWCASTLE UNITED: Dubravka; Manquillo, Fernandez, Schar, Dummett, Willems (Gayle, 71); Atsu (Muto, 80), S Longstaff, Hayden, Joelinton; Carroll. Subs not used: Elliot, Krafth, Lejeune, Yedlin, M Longstaff.