Newcastle kick off the post Steve Bruce era with a trip to Selhurst Park on Saturday. Graeme Jones’ Magpies take on Crystal Palace, where we continue our search for an elusive first Premier League win of the season.
It will be interesting to see how Jones sets up the team, but following Callum Wilson’s scoring return against Tottenham, it’s likely that Allan Saint-Maximin will continue in his natural role on the wing.
The Frenchman’s return to the flanks saw him complete the most dribbles in the Premier League across matchday eight.
But the 24-year-old faces an intriguing battle on Saturday. He will be coming up against a man who also knows a thing or two about being top of the charts.
Mitchell v Saint-Maximin
The Toon Army will be hoping for a repeat of last season’s result away to the Eagles as we came away with all three points in a 2-0 win, thanks to two quickfire late goals from Wilson and Joelinton.
Saint-Maximin missed that game with a calf injury and it was the first of nine straight matches that he was out of the side (Transfermarkt).
The former Nice man will be hoping for a change of fortune against Palace because he has been on the receiving end of two losses in both of the games he’s played against the London side.
If Jones starts the French Under-21 international on the right, he will be up against the league’s most prolific tackler in Tyrick Mitchell.
The 22-year-old has successfully made 28 tackles in the Premier League this season, two more than Wilfred Ndidi (SofaScore).
The Palace left-back will be coming up against Saint-Maximin who has dribbled past 35 players already in the Premier League this season. Only Adama Traore has completed more dribbles (49).
Mitchell’s tackling exploits are even more impressive considering he’s only made three fouls across eight top-flight games.
The English youngster clearly knows how to time his tackles and has good judgement when backing off or committing to the challenge.
The most tackles Micthell has made so far this season came in the 3-0 defeat at Anfield, when he was tasked with keeping Mohammed Salah quiet. Micthell made eight tackles that day, but he couldn’t stop the Egyptian getting on the scoresheet.
Saint-Maximin completed 10 dribbles against West Ham on the opening weekend of the new season and he hasn’t surpassed that total since.
With no goals or assists in his last two games, Saint-Maximin will be itching to contribute at Palace. His deadly pace and dribbling will certainly test the resolve of Mitchell.
It will be an intriguing battle between Mitchell and our mercurial number 10, but if Saint-Maximin can get the better of the left-back then Newcastle could be well on their way to getting a crucial first three points of the season.
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