Allan Saint-Maximin on his three assists, THAT Sean Longstaff goal & his lockdown improvements at Newcastle United

While lockdown has been hell for some, it’s proven to be heaven on earth for Allan Saint-Maximin.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Sean Longstaff of Newcastle United celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with team mate Allan Saint-Maximin during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United at Vitality Stadium on July 01, 2020 in Bournemouth, England.BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Sean Longstaff of Newcastle United celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with team mate Allan Saint-Maximin during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United at Vitality Stadium on July 01, 2020 in Bournemouth, England.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Sean Longstaff of Newcastle United celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with team mate Allan Saint-Maximin during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United at Vitality Stadium on July 01, 2020 in Bournemouth, England.

The Newcastle United player has set the Premier League alight since returning after the enforced coronavirus break – and was instrumental in the 4-1 win at AFC Bournemouth, equalling a Magpies top flight assist record.

Only Andy Cole and Moussa Sissoko had ever provided three goals in one Premier League game for Newcastle, that was until the Frenchman tore the struggling Cherries to pieces at the Vitality Stadium.

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Saint-Maximin laid Dwight Gayle’s first on a plate before tearing a hole in the Bournemouth backline to allow Sean Longstaff a finish. And in the second period he did not let up, with a weight-perfect pass to Miguel Almiron for number three. Valentino Lazaro then added a fourth for United before former Magpie Dan Gosling scored a late, late consolation for Eddie Howe’s men.

And while teams like Bournemouth and Sheffield United seem to have come back cold after lockdown, ASM is on fire!

“Lockdown helped me with my recovery,” Saint-Maximin told Sky Sports after the game.

“It gave me the opportunity to improve. I want to keep going, improving.

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“As a team we just want to look forward. Now 42 points, now we play West Ham, we win that we get 45. We want to keep winning.”

On the result, the former Nice man said: “I think everyone is happy today. We wanted to win this, every game is like a final. We want to be as high as possible.”

And on that Longstaff assist, where ASM showed his dribbling ability to ghost past the Bournemouth defence, he added: “I like my second assist it is good dribbling.

“I spoke with Longy and I said 'you ready for this?' and he was.

“It is a nice stat. I try to be better. Lockdown gave us a chance to feel better and I am very happy.”

United face West Ham United at St James’s Park on Sunday, kick-off 2.15pm.