Eddie Howe insists Allan Saint-Maximin's training performance during the international break saw him keep his place in the Newcastle United starting XI. The winger, who was withdrawn at half-time against Nottingham Forest before the break, justified Howe's decision on Sunday by putting in a fine performance during the win over Manchester United.
Saint-Maximin helped himself to an assist and ran riot down the left flank after keeping hold of his spot in the team despite Joelinton returning from suspension. The Frenchman has struggled to consistently deliver in recent months but has clearly proved his worth to Howe in training despite carrying a hamstring issue of late.
“I thought his performance was very good,” the Newcastle boss told reporters. “He deserved to keep his place, in my opinion. He’d been struggling with a hamstring injury.
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"During the Wolves and Forest games, I didn’t think he was at his physical best. But in the way that he’d trained during the week, I thought he deserved to start, and he continued his work from the training pitch on the pitch today.
"He released the ball well, and I thought he made really good, intelligent decisions. He played very well, and is a good place mentally.”
Saint-Maximin's long-term future on Tyneside remains up in the air but the player is keen to stay put as Newcastle enjoy Premier League success well ahead of schedule. With Champions League football now a realistic possibility next season, the 26-year-old admits he feels at home in the north east.
"I’ve never been in a situation where I start every single game, and be part of a team going to be in the Champions League or Europa League," Saint-Maximin told the club's official matchday programme. "I’ve been at Nice and Monaco as well, very good clubs, always in a good position. They won the league as well in Monaco.
"But it was not like here. Here, it’s different. The feeling, my life here, the way love the supporters, and the way they support me and love me – it’s crazy. They’ve been there when everything wasn’t good. To see myself when everything starts to come together, I feel very good.”
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