Magpies can take it to the Max if Saint keeps up top display Critics underestimated me and my team – boss

ASM has been in great form since comeback

NEWCASTLE United’s form since the Premier League’s resumption has helped extinguish any lingering relegation fears and left the Magpies looking up rather than down.

Seven points from a possible nine have taken Steve Bruce’s side 15 clear of the relegation zone and just five adrift of seventh-place Sheffield United, prompting some to even suggest European football next season isn’t entirely out of the question.

The recent form owes a lot to the displays of Allan Saint-maximin, and the playmaker will have a chance to keep it going this weekend against West Ham United – the team against whom he properly announced himself in England for the first time back in November.

When Newcastle travelled to the London Stadium before the turn of the year, they were just one point clear of the relegation zone and only Watford had scored fewer than their six goals. If 10 games into the season is the point at which you’re meant to begin paying attention to the table, it wasn’t looking great.

STEVE Bruce believes Newcastle United’s critics underestimated the dressing-room spirit at the club 12 months ago.

The United manager’s arrival was met by a chorus of disapproval from some quarters while some pundits were quick to predict another season of doom and gloom when Bruce swapped Sheffield Wednesday for Newcastle.

However with six games to go, United’s first aim for the season – to secure top-flight

They hadn’t netted in either of their previous two away games – a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea and a 5-0 reverse at Leicester City – and at that stage had just three points from a possible 15 on their travels. However, three goals in the first hour – the first time they scored more than once in a league game under Bruce – meant they took all three points back up to Tyneside.

The goals themselves might have owed a lot to Jonjo Shelvey’s set pieces, with the midfielder scoring direct from a free-kick and paying a part in Ciaran Clark and Federico Fernandez’s efforts, but aside from that it was all about Saint-maximin, who was a real handful for West Ham before making way in the closing minutes.

The Frenchman completed five dribbles, was fouled twice and delivered one key pass (all stats via safety – has been comfortably achieved and the chance to push on for the top 10 or the more difficult prospect of a Europa League place (seventh or possibly eighth) is now in front of Bruce’s team.

Bruce (right) told the Sunday Sun: “A lot of people wrote us off. They wrote me off and they wrote my staff off. More importantly they wrote the players off.

“I think all credit to those behind me, my staff and the players, the first part of the job is accomplished.

“That is not easy when you have only been in the Premier League in your third season after winning the Championship.”

Bruce refused to be drawn on the prospect of European football but has asked his squad to continue to show the type of effort levels they demonstrated on Wednesday night as struggling Bournemouth were well beaten 4-1.

Whoscored), and even had time to attempt a rainbow flick over compatriot Sebastien Haller. That was unsuccessful, but in fairness Haller is one of the tallest players in the league so even attempting it has to count for something.

If Saint-maximin hadn’t already arrived with his lively performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers the previous week, he certainly did so in east London.

Saint-maximin continued to deliver some impressive performances thereafter, but he has stepped things up again since the league got back under way in June.

The opening goal against Sheffield United was a solid start, beating Dean Henderson from closerange, but the former Nice man really caught the eye against Bournemouth with three assists in a resounding 4-1 away win.

He added: “It is up to us to stay focused and keep playing like we did at Bournemouth the other night.

“We can keep the momentum going and see where it takes us.

“I am delighted with the way we played the other night.

“We have some tough games coming up but we must stay focused and see where it can take us. Then let’s see what develops after that.”

Newcastle are in their best shape points-wise since 2014 and have a chance to better Alan Pardew’s tally of 49 points that year.

Since 2007, United have only been above the 40 points mark after 32 matches on three occasions in the Premier League.

Bruce added: “I will let other people speak about that.

“It is important for me to get the job done.

“It was important to stay in the Premier League, the more you are in

Dwight Gayle, Sean Longstaff and Miguel Almiron all converted Saint-maximin passes, with the second assist coming off the back of some excellent wing-play.

What’s most remarkable is that, before that trip to the south coast, Saint-maximin only had one league assist to his name all season, laying on Isaac Hayden’s stoppage-time winner against Chelsea in January.

The end-product shouldn’t come as too big a surprise, given how his productivity has been up since the restart.

Before lockdown, Saint-maximin had been averaging 1.28 key passes per game, up to 1.47 in matches where he had been on the pitch for 45 minutes or more.

Since the resumption of Premier League football, though, his five key passes amount to 1.67 per game.

While three games doesn’t represent the biggest sample size, such sharpness after a three-month layoff isn’t to be sniffed at, especially when so many players and clubs have looked sluggish.

If Saint-maximin can keep this going for the remainder of the season, who knows how high he and this team can go. there the more established you become and the better players you get...you keep moving forward.”

Bruce has also paid tribute to stars like Matt Ritchie, Jonjo Shelvey, Jamaal Lascelles, Paul Dummett and Dwight Gayle who have all stuck with the club.

The Toon head coach said: “The great thing for me is the core of the team which took us out of the Championship is still here.

“They are still the heartbeat of the club and it means something to them. They have been here a few years this core of players and keep the dressing room well.

“We have seen it too often where some clubs disregard the team which took them to the Premier League – but five or six are still here and have been rewarded with new deals and rightly so.

“It is up to us to keep the momentum going forward.”