Former Newcastle United midfielder Rob Lee has said it’s up to the club to try and keep Allan Saint-Maximin, amid reports linking him with an exit this summer.
The Frenchman was back in the starting XI for the Magpies on Sunday against Tottenham Hotspur.
But his return was not enough to help Newcastle get back to winning ways.
Newcastle started well enough, and took the lead through Fabian Schar.
But Ben Davies then equalised, and in the second-half Spurs blew the visitors away, running out 5-1 winners.
It was not a good afternoon for Saint-Maximin, who was the subject of a claim that Newcastle could cash in on him this summer.
David Ginola urged Newcastle to retain the Frenchman, and Lee also thinks he shouldn’t be sold.
He told Stadium Astro: “It’s down to his injuries. They’ve chucked him in against Spurs away, a tough game. I thought he was poor, he was policed well.
“But we need to get him on the pitch, and keep getting him fitter and fitter. Without a doubt – I totally agreed with David Ginola – Newcastle fans want to be excited again.
“He is a massive entertainer. If he was put up for sale, I guarantee the top clubs would come and try and buy him. It’s up to Newcastle to try and keep him.”
Newcastle can’t be selling Saint-Maximin, as Rob Lee and David Ginola suggests
Saint-Maximin can undoubtedly frustrate, but Newcastle should not be looking to cash in on him this summer.
He’s done some incredible things in a black and white shirt since his arrival, and has sometimes been a one-man band.
Newcastle have their first summer transfer window under the new owners coming up, and it seems ludicrous for the club to offload Saint-Maximin before finally getting quality players in and around him.
Yes he can be inconsistent, and his injury record is far from perfect.
But surely it is too soon to be thinking about offloading a player as talented as him.
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