Former Newcastle United defender Jose Enrique is unsure whether Allan Saint-Maximin fits into Eddie Howe's first-team plans and has raised the possibility the winger may be sold in the summer.
Prior to Howe's arrival at Newcastle, Saint-Maximin was almost the Magpies sole creative force. In a team shackled by the negative tactics of Steve Bruce, the Frenchman stood out on occasion as a bright spot in a dull Newcastle side.
However, since taking over from Bruce, Howe has transformed Newcastle, which has in-turn seen their dependance upon Saint-Maximin to produce moments of magic wane.
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There was a time when the mercurial winger was a must-start for Newcastle. However, this season has seen Saint-Maximin struggle for game time due to injuries and the form of Joelinton and Joe Willock, who interchange down the left wing during the course of 90 minutes.
The 25-year-old started his first Premier League game since their August in the 1-1 draw with West Ham, following Bruno Guimaraes' recent suspension. However, despite this, Enrique believes that while Saint-Maximin's quality is undisputed, he can not match the desired work rate Howe asks of his team, which could lead to him leaving St James' Park in the summer.
"Eddie Howe, Guardiola, Klopp - I don’t think any of them could make the difference here," Enrique told BestGamblingSites. "It’s whether Saint-Maximin himself is happy being a sub. I don’t think Eddie is able to keep a player happy if they are not happy being on the bench.
"Many feel he’s the best player in the team. He’s world class in a 1v1 situation and I think he’s a nightmare for any defender - in fact I don’t think I’ve ever seen Kyle Walker struggle so much against any winger in the world!
"But the way Eddie Howe wants to play, Saint-Maximin can’t give you the work rate for 90 minutes. It's a question for Saint-Maximin - will he be happy coming off the bench? I don’t think he will and it is possible he will want to move on in the summer."
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