Allan Saint-Maximin is 'very happy' at Newcastle United and the Magpies will see the 'real' Frenchman in the second half of the season.
That is according to former team-mate Florian Lejeune, who is still in touch with his countryman, ahead of their reunion at St James' Park at the weekend. Newcastle face Lejeune's Rayo Vallecano side on Saturday in what will be the hosts' final friendly before the restart and Saint-Maximin will be among those desperate to impress after a stop-start campaign so far.
Saint-Maximin has only made four Premier League starts this season, following a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring issue, but the mercurial forward has still been directly involved in four goals, including two assists in a stunning display against champions Man City back in August. That run of form coincided with a shift in approach by Eddie Howe, which has seen Newcastle play more on the front foot and have more possession.
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Whereas Saint-Maximin was once starved of the ball in big games and felt the burden of being Newcastle's match-winner during some difficult times in the Ashley era, when he rightly questioned the club's ambition, the 25-year-old has relished having the support of Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes et al under the new ownership. Competition for places is intense at the moment - Saint-Maximin, Miguel Almiron, Alexander Isak, Callum Wilson and Jacob Murphy will soon be battling it out for just three starting positions - but the Magpies' talisman certainly has an important role to play after the World Cup break.
"We all know Allan and the talent he has - he’s quite simply fantastic," Lejeune told ChronicleLive. "I am sure that one day he will end up playing for a very big club - any club he decides to choose as he is someone who is full of ambition - but I sense he is very happy at Newcastle.
"He is much-loved and is clearly very important for the team. What’s more, with the new plans for the club, that could also play in his favour.
"He is going through a little bit of a tough spell as he is just returning after having had an injury, but I am sure in the second half of the season we will get to see the real Allan."
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