Allan Saint-Maximin has been a breath of fresh air for Newcastle since he recovered from injury to nail down a regular starting spot in Steve Bruce’s lineup.
Whenever he gets the ball, a buzz reverberates around the stands, and there is an air of excitement and anticipation, as fans wonder what he is going to do next.
He is going to frustrate supporters at times, as his tricks will not always come off, but he is the type of player that will make fans want to go to games, such is his fast-growing cult-hero status.
BBC Sport released some OPTA stats on Tuesday, looking at the Premier League’s top dribblers, and Newcastle’s new French magician features heavily in them.
In the category of players with the most yards gained while dribbling the ball, Saint-Maximin tops the list with an average of 12.17 metres from a total of 125 carries – over 1m more than his nearest rival, Marcus Rashford who has 11.09m.
It is Saint-Maximin’s pace, as well as ball control, that sees him ranked first, and is testament to his quick feet and balance.
Newcastle have two players in the ‘dribbles with a take on’ category
He also ranks joint second in the ‘carries with a take on’ category, with 38 of his 125 runs seeing him beat an opposing player. First in that list is Wilfried Zaha (48 from 203), while Wolves’ Adama Traore (38 from 204) is on equal terms.
Miguel Almiron also makes this list, ranking ninth, with him taking on 26 opponents from 171 carries.
Saint-Maximin is also fourth in the list of players whose carries end with a shot. From his 125 runs, 12 have resulted in an effort at goal. Watford’s Gerard Deulofeu (17/188), Willian of Chelsea (14/208) and Spurs’ Son Heung-min (13/131) are the top three.
What should be noted from those lists, is Saint-Maximin’s achievements have come from fewer attempts than all his rivals.
That highlights how impressive his figures are, given the amount of games he has missed this season, and also the little amount of possession Newcastle have had in games.
There is no doubt we have a superb talent in our side, and if he can start finding goals to accompany his trickery, he could go on to be a legend at Newcastle.
Toon supporters already love him, and it seems the feeling is mutual, with Saint-Maximin enjoying interacting with fans, whether it is on social media, or those who stop to speak to him in the streets.
Let’s hope he can maintain his form for the rest of the season, and if he can, the goals are sure to follow.
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