Former Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin is shining since his Premier League exit and grabbed a hat-trick of assists as Al-Ahli cruised to a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabian rivals Al-Fayha on Thursday.
It was a performance reminiscent of the days when Allan Saint-Maximin was a shining light piercing through the gloom at St James’ Park.
After inch-perfect cross to set up Al-Ahli’s opener, the former Newcastle United talisman then left a suffering full-back for dead before picking out a team-mate at the far post. Assist number three arrived mere moments later, Al-Ahli 3-0 up in 30 minutes and Saint-Maximin on fire against Al-Fayha.
In 16 Saudi Pro League games, the summer signing from St James’ Park now has seven assists to his name. Thre goals, too.
Allan Saint-Maximin lighting up Saudi Pro League
“The Al-Fayhaa team is distinguished and played a beautiful match,” Saint-Maximin told the Sports Newspaper at full-time. “But we performed well and scored four goals.”
Al-Ahli are now third in the table, albeit ten points adrift of leaders Al-Hilal. Only Cristiano Ronaldo and the lesser-known Alvaro Medran of Al-Taawoun have more in the entire division.
And that scintillating display against Al-Fayha was a reminder of what this most enigmatic of forwards can do when at his very best, Saint-Maximin one of the most exciting and aesthetically-pleasing – if not consistent – attackers in the Premier League at Newcastle, lighting up Tyneside even on the gloomiest of days under Mike Ashley and Steve Bruce.
Seven assists already
“What was incredible was we came down here (by the touchline) to watch him at eye level,” Gary Neville told Sky Sports after one particularly exhilerating Saint-Maximin display against Leeds United back in 2021.
‘To see his speed, his movement, it’s absolutely breathtaking. Every team now has three or four players who are unpredictable and brilliant. He’s breathtaking.”
“He plays with freedom and expression. Honestly, he’s a massive threat and a nightmare for defenders. He creates chance after chance. He’s brilliant.”
Whoever the Saudi Arabian equivalent of Gary Neville is, one can only imagine he is making similar claims about Saint-Maximin torday.
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