Eddie Howe knows how much damage Allan Saint-Maximin could cause to AFC Bournemouth's leaky defence at the Vitality Stadium today.
Indeed, the Newcastle United boss could only watch on while Cherries manager as Saint-Maximin helped himself to three assists in the corresponding fixture back in the 2019/20 season. That day there were no fans present on the South Coast with the game part of the Project Restart series three years ago.
Howe said ahead of the match tonight: "Well he's capable. He is capable of some brilliant things and that day he was very, very good.
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"There was no crowd. It was a really strange atmosphere that day but I thought Newcastle were very good. They scored some good goals and made it difficult for us. There will certainly be a few players who were playing that day who were playing so that will be good memories for them."
Saint-Maximin enjoyed a 69 minute run out against West Ham without troubling the opposing defence too much. His season peaked in the 3-3 draw against Man City when he created two and had a hand in another.
But Howe is expected to give Saint-Maximin his opportunity to run at a Bournemouth defence that has conceded 43 goals already this season and haven't won in the last eight matches.
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