Bruce in Maximin
STEVE Bruce will fight to keep Allan SaintMaximum at St James’s Park this summer.
The Newcastle boss knows his prized asset will be wanted by other teams after a series of top displays.
But he’s digging in to keep the Frenchman.
Bruce said: “I said when we signed him he was going to be someone who gets you off the edge of your seat and how often do you feel like that about an individual player?
“He has wonderful natural ability and it wouldn’t surprise me if other teams are looking because his ability is there for everybody to see.
“He is a very gifted individual and young, of course. The last thing we want to be doing is selling our better players that is for sure.”
Newcastle have had a decent season and, despite some ups and downs, have never really been in a relegation battle.
Rubbish
But that hasn’t stopped Bruce coming in for plenty of stick from the Toon Army.
He said: “It is a fantastic football club and if you are a Geordie or from there it is unique.
“The vast majority of people you speak to on the street are wishing me the best of luck and telling me to take no notice of the rubbish.
“It has been very difficult. I was never going to be good enough for some.
“You have to accept criticism, it is part and parcel of it, but I think at times it has been unjust.
“I have always said to try and judge me when I have a fit squad.
“Here is the big thing. Newcastle in the last 14/15 years have been in the bottom half of the Premier League.
“We would all love to see Newcastle United being back to signing the Alan Shearers of this world for world record fees but that just isn’t going to happen.
“It is difficult managing the expectation that is obviously still there.”