Newcastle boss Steve Bruce insists he has had no discussions about Allan Saint-Maximin leaving… as he insists the winger is ‘immensely enjoying’ his central role
- Steve Bruce insists he has not discussed Allan Saint-Maximin leaving Newcastle
- The tricky winger has again stood out for the Magpies at the start of this season
- Boss Bruce has played down talk of owner Mike Ashley allowing the star to leave
- Saint-Maximin is happy to be fit and playing in a new central role, Bruce has said
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce has played down talk of wing wizard Allan Saint-Maximin leaving the club if the price is right for owner Mike Ashley in the January transfer window.
Flying Frenchman Saint-Maximin has scored twice and provided two assists in a scintillating individual start to the season for the Magpies, leading to fears that the club’s key creative spark could be sold to the highest bidder at the start of next year.
Bullish Bruce told the Chronicle: ‘I haven’t even had that conversation – and I don’t want that conversation, as you can imagine.
Allan Saint-Maximin (R) will be a happy wideman if Newcastle can win at Watford on Saturday
![Boss Steve Bruce has deployed Saint-Maximin in a more central position so far this campaign](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/09/25/00/48361793-10026829-image-a-24_1632527397749.jpg)
Boss Steve Bruce has deployed Saint-Maximin in a more central position so far this campaign
‘We don’t want to lose our best players. I am delighted with him so, for now, I am not going to have that conversation with anybody. We want to keep our best players.’
Injuries limited influential Saint-Maximin’s impact last season, keeping the twinkle-toed 24-year-old out of 13 of his side’s Premier League matches.
Saint-Maximin’s manager is understandably as keen for his most in-form star to remain free of issues as he is for the club to resist any lucrative offers for him.
Bruce said: ‘He’s staying fit and well and the decision of putting him down the middle – he’s enjoyed it immensely.
![The Frenchman has scored two of the Magpies' six goals but they remain in the relegation zone](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/09/25/00/48361795-10026829-image-a-25_1632527426873.jpg)
The Frenchman has scored two of the Magpies’ six goals but they remain in the relegation zone
‘He can go both ways and he’s played his fifth game for 90 minutes this season [already]. That’s more than he did in the whole of last season.’
Newcastle occupy the final relegation place in the Premier League ahead of their trip to newly-promoted Watford on Saturday.
The strugglers are yet to win, with their two points in the campaign so far owing much to Saint-Maximin’s efforts.
The former Nice livewire equalised in a 1-1 draw with Leeds in his side’s most recent home game and thought he had scored a 91st-minute winner against visitors Southampton before James Ward-Prowse netted five minutes later to make it 2-2.