Newcastle anticipate £16.5m player will have an important role next season

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So many Newcastle United players have improved under Eddie Howe, but Allan Saint-Maximin does not fall into that category.

He was once the Toon talisman, carrying the club on his back during the Steve Bruce era. However, he has been less impactful since Howe took over, with Newcastle finding a way to win without Saint-Maximin.

But the Frenchman is still a fan favourite on Tyneside, with supporters keen to see him stay at St James’ Park amid speculation over an exit.

Despite a social media post that suggested he might be on the way out, it has been reported that ASM wants to continue being a Newcastle player – and it is easy to understand why.

This is a very exciting time for the club, and it is going to be even more exciting next season with Champions League football on the horizon.

Saint-Maximin is yet to truly find his role in Howe’s Newcastle side, but people inside the club reportedly believe that he could have a much bigger role in the 2023/24 campaign.

Newcastle expecting more from Allan Saint-Maximin

That is according to the Athletic, who state that the club appreciate that Saint-Maximin is their most saleable asset. However, they are not actively looking to sell him.

The Athletic add that Newcastle are expecting to face more defensive teams next season who utilise a low block, and appreciate that Maxi has the tools to unlock sides that play in that way.

That should result in the 26-year-old having a much more important role, while he should receive more minutes as Howe will need to rotate his side due to the increased volume of games.

The main thing for Saint-Maximin will be staying fit, and that should lead to plenty of opportunities for him – providing he can become a consistence source of goals and assists.

Consistency is the aim of the game for the £16.5million man, who is so skilful that stubborn defences struggle to handle him. And that is why Newcastle expect him to be much more valuable next season.

Hopefully that proves to be the case, as he is an absolute joy to watch when he is on form.