HALLER’S BATTLE TO STRIKE BACK

Bruce: Allan is Prem buy of the season and he’s staying

ALLAN SAINT-MAXIMIN has been hailed the best pound-forpound signing of the season – and insisted he will not be sold.

Steve Bruce admits he has lost his temper with Saint-maximin several times this season and has fined the French winger.

The Toon chief says he came with a reputation of being “difficult” following a £16million move from Nice but has proved a big hit by “loving the ball” and “doing things no one else in he Premier League can do.”

Saint-maximin grabbed a hattrick of assists at Bournemouth in midweek, and Bruce reckons he loves being a star on Tyneside.

Bruce said: “At the level of money we bought him for he is the best pound-for-pound signing in the Premier League. We have probably got the buy of the season.”

Saint-maximin signed a six-year deal last August, and Bruce said: “There’s no chance of him leaving. He and Miguel Almiron are performing, and they are linked with transfers. They have got to stay at this level.”

Bruce says Saint-maximin, who faces West Ham tomorrow, likes to be loved.

He added: “When you get yourself a bit of a reputation, which Allan seemed to have, then it’s going to test your managerial skills

“The great thing about Allan is, if you follow him on Instagram, he’s always playing football - dribbling against his mates in his garden, or his dog or whatever, he’s got a genuine love for the game and enjoys the ball.

“He’s got a great enthusiasm for the game of football and that outweighs anything else. I don’t know how many times I have fined him for earrings and headbands and all sorts, but he’s coming to terms with it with his performances.”

Hammers boss David Moyes knows they must have a plan in place for Saint-maximin at St James’s Park, admitting: “He’s given Newcastle a new dimension.

“We need to work really hard to stop him because they’ve won a lot of their games with his ability to create chances and with his speed.”

Almiron, meanwhile, has been touted for a switch to Atletico Madrid – by his agent Daniel Campos.

The 26-year-old has netted six goals since January, but he took 11 months to get his first goal after joining from Atlanta in the MLS.

And Bruce insisted: “We don’t want to lose our best players. We want to keep them. We want to build around them.

“Everyone has a price, but we want to keep them.”

SEBASTIAN HALLER is bidding to make his return tomorrow as West Ham insist they will not will be punished for delays over his transfer payment. The Hammers splashed out a record £45million on French striker Haller (right) last summer. But they missed a £5.4m instalment to Eintracht Frankfurt in May. FIFA have opened an investigation after a complaint by the German club. But West Ham are not worried about any possible sanction over a commercially confidential issue between the clubs. And David Moyes said the only reason his sevengoal top scorer had not played since the re-start was due to a hip injury – and he was now back in training before the trip to Newcastle. “Seb’s still a doubt,” said the West Ham boss. “He’s back on the grass and we’re trying to get him back. It’s going to be touch and go. “There has been no connection to the story and him not playing because Seb has been injured. The players have nothing to do with what is going on between the clubs.” St James’ Park: Tom, 2.15pm MAX POWER The Toon winger was far too strong for Bournemouth