Saint-Maximin ready to ‘kill’ the defenders
NEWCASTLE United’s Allan Saint-Maximin has sounded a warning to Premier League defenders, saying they should be scared of him.
The 22-year-old has put his injury woes behind him, starting the last three games – leaving fans and pundits impressed.
Saint-Maximin’s main attribute is running at defenders and the Frenchman is not lacking in selfconfidence - but he knows there is always room for improvement.
He said: “I can get a lot better. I know my quality and I have a lot of things at Newcastle which will make me better.
“To play well, you need to enjoy your life. I have that here.
“This is just the start, we knew this season might be tough but the club wants to grow and improve, but it has to be gradual.
“I am learning all the time. As a team we are working on how to get me on the ball higher up the pitch, how to get me one-on-one with a defender because if that happens I will kill them.”
He added: “Defenders should be scared of me. I am fast and technical. They have to be careful but it is what I have said to the manager, let them come to me, I will pass to my partners.”
Playing football on the streets on the outskirts of Paris as a boy, Saint-Maximin’s skill comes from those experiences growing up.
He went on: “I learnt to play on the street. I started there - a little bit of me still plays on the street.
“When I get the ball, I want to beat my man, dribble, to play with freedom, to express myself. When I am on the pitch, I am happiest, just like when I was small playing with my brother and his friends.”
That joy of just playing football is clear and his style of play reminds fans of fellow Frenchman and good friend Hatem Ben Arfa.
Saint-Maximin added: “He told me to sign. He is a good friend, we grew up in the same area. He had some of his best days at Newcastle and wished he had stayed longer.”