Newcastle United will have no problems staying in the Premier League and could even enjoy a strong season next term if they keep star man Allan Saint-Maximin fit.
The Frenchman was branded ‘Newcastle’s Roy of the Rovers’ as he led the charge in a surprise victory over in-form West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday.
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Few would have predicted a win for Steve Bruce’s struggling side against a team in fine goalscoring form and gunning for a place in next season’s Champions League.
But it didn’t go to the script at St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon as the Hammers paid for a series of shambolic defensive mistakes as the hosts claimed a stunning 3-2 win thanks to an Issa Diop own goal and further strikes from Joelinton and substitute Joe Willock.
The victory wouldn’t have been possible, though, without Saint-Maximin who continued his lively return from injury to run the show – quite literally – for Newcastle.
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There’s no doubt Bruce’s side have been poor this term, but they have suffered their fair share of injury troubles with the most significant being Saint-Maximin, who has missed the majority of the campaign with ankle and calf problems.
But the man compared to Paul Gascoigne and David Ginola has returned at just the right time, with Newcastle recorded back-to-back wins for only the second time this season to lift the club nine points clear of the bottom-three.
And Danny Mills believes Bruce’s side will not only avoid the drop but also will enjoy a decent campaign next season if the ‘livewire’ French winger remains fit… and they manage to keep hold of him in the summer transfer window.
He did, however, admit they are far too reliant on the former Nice star.
Speaking during the game at St James’ Park, Mills said on talkSPORT: “It’s almost like, ‘just give the ball to Saint-Maximin’, isn’t it. It’s a little bit Roy at the Rovers at times from Newcastle.
“Who is going to score? Well, nobody apart from Saint-Maximin, at the moment. He’s the threat, he’s the livewire who is getting in and creating opportunities.
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“Saint-Maximin gives this Newcastle team so much dynamism, he picks up the ball and runs at people, he makes things happen, he’s a constant threat no matter what.
“If you keep him fit for the whole season and if you can find a decent partner for him… that may be Callum Wilson if you can get them working together.
“Suddenly, you feel that if they can get them both on the pitch and keep them both fit, Newcastle will have no problems saying up and no problems next season, either.
“Newcastle do what they do, they work hard and they rely on Saint-Maximin for so much energy and attacking prowess.
“He’s picking the ball up on the halfway line and he’s looking to run to goal on his own, often with four or five defenders around! He’s a real threat and he causes problems.
“When Newcastle have Saint-Maximin in the team they’re a different team and they’ll always have a chance.
“But you can’t keep relying on players running 50 yards for a goal, that can’t happen. He can’t do it all himself.”
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