Newcastle have possibly signed the bargain of the season in Allan Saint-Maximin, with his action packed performances, blistering pace and wizardry footwork picking up plaudits from fans and pundits alike.
He had a tough start to his Newcastle career, picking up a muscle injury, which kept him out for a few games, before aggravating it when he finally got his first start at Tottenham.
But since his return to fitness, he has been Newcastle’s top performer by far, with him exciting fans in the process.
The only thing missing from him so far, is a goal, but one is surely around the corner, and would be even more likely if Steve Bruce gave him a new role in the side.
He has been used on the wing most of the time, with Bruce hoping he can beat the full-backs to create chances for his teammates.
But, if he were to be given a free role behind the striker, with licence to roam around the pitch, it would surely see Saint-Maximin improve further.
From that position, he could have a bigger influence in games, ensuring he is on the ball, and involved in the action, even more than he currently is.
Joelinton could also reap the rewards from the switch
It would also benefit Joelinton, as he still craves a strike partner to help with the workload up front, with Saint-Maximin able to feed off the Brazilian’s hold up play and flick ons.
It would be a quid pro quo – to coin the current ‘in phrase’ – with Saint-Maximin also able to create chances for Joelinton, as he will be on the ball in threatening positions, which would surely see him sliding it through for the number nine to run onto.
It would give Newcastle much more of a goal-scoring threat, while enabling Bruce to play a formation that would be like having two strikers, without having to stray away from his three centre-backs and reverting to 4-4-2.
With the wing-backs pushing on, he could use them as the attacking threat on the flanks, have his two holding midfielders, with Saint-Maximin just in front of them.
He could then either use Miguel Almiron in a similar role to the French wizard, or up alongside Joelinton, so loosely adopting a sort of 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2, depending on his preference.
Either way, it would benefit Newcastle to have their biggest threat on the ball as much as possible, and if that means bringing him in from the wing, then it is surely a no-brainer for Bruce.
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