Newcastle United are getting this right under Mike Ashley – at long last

And that’s particularly surprising given that it involved spending money at a time when the club is grappling with the financial cost of the coronavirus pandemic.

What I’m talking about is the new six-year deal given to Allan Saint-Maximin, who was already contracted to the club until 2025. The contract gives Saint-Maximin, outstanding since his £16.5million move from Nice last year, a pay rise, and keeps him at the club until 2026.

Saint-Maximin, we know, has been pushing for a new deal which reflects his importance to the team since last season. The 23-year-old winger’s new contract puts him in the same bracket as top earners like Jonjo Shelvey and Jamaal Lascelles.

Without Saint-Maximin, Newcastle aren’t nearly as effective as an attacking force, and Saint-Maximin – who had one of his best games yet for the club before the international break – was badly missed during his absences through injury last season.

"We’ve seen the value to him when he’s on the pitch,” said Bruce after Newcastle’s 3-1 win over Burnley.

Keeping him happy and motivated is so important.

United, however, haven’t always been quick to reward players for their development when they’ve already been on long contracts.

The club did back in Kevin Keegan’s first spell as manager – he was always keep for a player’s contract to reflect his status – and the proactive contractual housekeeping of recent months is encouraging.

A number of other players, notably Isaac Hayden, Martin Dubravka and Matt Ritchie, have signed new deals since head coach Steve Bruce took charge. United have rewarded these players, and they, in turn, should repay the club on the pitch.

There’s still work to do – midfielder Sean Longstaff is still on the same deal he signed before he had played a first-team game for Newcastle, and Federico Fernandez’s contract expires at the end of the campaign – but things have improved since last year.

It’s up to those players to now underline their value to the team over the coming months – and work towards their next deals.

Saint-Maximin, rightly, has now got what he wanted – and he must now give fans more of what they want.

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