Steve Bruce explains Newcastle United's surprise transfer 'gamble'

Indalecio, 23, has signed a one-year deal with the club after a successful trial in the summer.

The attacking midfielder – who had been working on building sites and playing lower league football in Australia – was initially brought to the club by Saint-Maximin, his close friend and former Saint-Etienne team-mate.

Indalecio, not in Newcastle’s 25-man Premier League squad, is only eligible to play for the club’s Under-23s in the first half of the season.

“He came over for a trial with Allan in the summer,” said United head coach Steve Bruce. “He came into the Academy, and they’ve had him for the past six weeks.

"He’s got something. Whether that will ever be good enough to play for Newcastle, we’ll see how he develops. We’ll give him a chance. He’s got a decent pedigree.”

Asked if having Indalecio would help Saint-Maximin, Bruce said: “It certainly helps Allan – it’s his mate. But, make no mistake, we haven’t just signed him because he’s Allan’s mate. He’s got a bit of talent, otherwise he wouldn’t be coming in.”

Bruce added: “He’s going to be with the Academy, and we’ll see how he develops. He’s got a bit of talent. We signed a kid from Peru (Rodrigo Vilca) as well. It’s one for the future.

"We’ve decided to take a bit of a gamble on him, and see how he gets on this year.”

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