Steve Bruce addresses summer interest in Allan Saint-Maximin at Newcastle United

The Newcastle United winger has been in sensational form since returning from injury early this month.

Saint-Maximin – who missed the middle part of the season after being hit hard by Covid-19 – has helped the club claim eight points from its last four Premier League games.

And the 24-year-old’s form won’t have gone unnoticed at home – and abroad.

Bruce has spoken about Saint-Maximin, signed from Nice the summer before last in a £16.5million deal, ahead of Sunday’s Premier League home game against Arsenal.

Asked if he feared that Saint-Maximin would attract interest in the summer transfer window, United’s head coach said: “We were looking (at his statistics) only yesterday – he’s played three 90 minutes all season.

"And we all know, if you watch Newcastle regularly, when Allan’s in the team, we’re a better team – and that’s what I’ve been quietly trying to get through.

"We lost Callum (Wilson) and Miggy (Almiron) as well. It’s been difficult, very, very difficult. I’ve no doubt he’ll attract interest, because you only have to watch him once and realise he’s a really gifted talented footballer. I remember saying in one of my first press conferences when we signed him was that he’ll get you off your seat. He’s one of them.

“He scored a goal in training the other day which was just remarkable, pity we haven’t got any footage of it.

"He’s got a wonderful talent, we understand that, but he’s got to find that consistency which every big player needs – and, of course, stay well. Covid struck him really, really badly. For him not to do anything for two months, was difficult for everybody, especially him.”

Saint-Maximin signed a new deal keeping him at St James’s Park until 2026 early this season, and Bruce has insisted that the club wants to keep him on Tyneside.

“Look, the last thing we want to be doing is selling our best players,” said Bruce.

Newcastle are 16th in the Premier League – and nine points above the relegation zone – ahead of the Arsenal game.

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