Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City must be wary of Allan Saint-Maximin after the Newcastle United star played a key role in the six-goal thriller on Tyneside earlier this season. The defending champions recovered from a two-goal deficit at St James' Park in August to secure a 3-3 draw.
Saint-Maximin delivered one of his best displays in a black-and-white shirt, tormenting Kyle Walker throughout and producing the assist for Miguel Almiron's first-half equaliser. The Magpies' number 10 netted a stunning injury-time equaliser the following weekend against Wolves, but has seen his season derailed by injury.
Saint-Maximin could keep his place for the Etihad clash after earning a start in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester United, although Eddie Howe could be tempted into an attacking rethink following his side's recent goalscoring troubles. Anthony Gordon is yet to make his full debut, while Callum Wilson's form is leading to calls for record signing Alexander Isak to lead the line.
READ MORE: Pep Guardiola pays Newcastle ultimate compliment and insists Magpies are here to 'stay'
Guardiola paid Newcastle the ultimate compliment ahead of Saturday's reverse fixture, insisting they are the 'best team in the league for many, many things'. The City boss highlighted the threat Saint-Maximin will again pose, and warned losing the battle for the first ball could again prove costly.
Reflecting on the first meeting, Guardiola told the club's website: “We didn’t find the space, Saint-Maximin dropped us back. He has that ability to take the ball to use the counterattack to drive the ball.
“If you cannot win that duel you have to defend 40 metres further back. We are not a team that concedes too many counterattacks.
“We try to play with proper strikers like Erling or Julian before sometimes it would be Gabriel who would drop. This game was Saint-Maximin or Almiron or Joelinton - they have players who can run 40 metres with the ball.
“When that happens, you have to defend. We saw it in the first 10 minutes against Bristol City on our right side. We normally concede because we lose easy balls and in that aspect we have to improve.”
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