Allan Saint-Maximin may soon be ‘surplus to requirements’ at Newcastle United after slipping down the pecking order under Eddie Howe, former Premier League and Magpies defender John Beresford tells talkSPORT (28 February, 12.40pm).
Arguably nothing sums up Howe’s ‘collective over the individual’ approach more than the fact that Saint-Maximin – arguably the most exciting and naturally-talented footballer at St James’ Park – is no longer a nailed-on fixture on team sheet.
Yes, Saint-Maximin started the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester United on Sunday. That is one of only nine he has made throughout 2022/23 however; Howe preferring the consistency of Joe Willock wide-left.
And Beresford, who spent six years at St James’ Park between 1992 and 1998, wonders if Saint-Maximin may be forced to consider a fresh start elsewhere unless Howe rips up his blueprint.
Allan Saint-Maximin facing uncertain future at Newcastle United
“I think the game on Sunday, Eddie Howe learned so much. The players learned so much,” Beresford says. “It just shone out. We need a little bit more creativity. We need a goalscorer.
“Saint-Maximin was the saviour but, now, I think he will be surplus to requirements. This is how big we are going to go. We are two or three years of where we expected to be (at this stage) anyhow.”
Saint-Maximin’s Wembley display felt, in a way, like his entire Newcastle career in a microcosm. So much intent, so much excitement, so much frustration. The former Monaco whizzkid was the Magpies’ greatest attacking threat throughout the first ‘45. He drew a fine save from David de Gea after turning Diogo Dalot into a Portuguese pretzel.
He had nothing like the same impact once the more-defensively secure Aaron Wan-Bissaka was introduced at half-time, however; bulled into submission by ‘AWB’s trademark sliding tackles.
“When you have players like Allan Saint-Maximin, who was the saviour of the team, now finding it difficult to get in the side, you see that the side has moved forward,” former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan adds.
“(Saint-Maximin is) a player who has great ability but turns it off and on in equal measure.”
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