Bruce calls on Saint-maximin spark

Newcastle United will have their most exciting and dangerous player back in the squad for the start of a run of three games that is likely to decide manager Steve Bruce’s fate.

The team have gone nine games without a win in all competitions and have not scored a goal in six of those. Newcastle face Aston Villa tonight, then Leeds United and Everton. Bruce needs to win at least one of those to maintain a sevenpoint cushion to the bottom three.

In that respect, the return to fitness of Allan Saint-maximin, who has missed eight weeks of the season due to health complications caused after he caught Covid-19 in November, is a huge boost.

The French winger (right) may have produced only one goal and one assist this season, but his threat on the counter-attack and ability to beat players with the ball change the way teams take on Newcastle.

“We’ve got a few back, in particular Allan, who I’m sure will give us all a lift,” Bruce said. “He is the one that can take you up the pitch quickly. It’s been really tough for him. He’s just delighted to be given the go-ahead and thankfully this virus hasn’t scarred any of the organs it attacked. Let’s hope he can give us a spark because the team need that bit of flair, style, arrogance, swagger and pace.”

Asked if he had fallen out with Saint-maximin before he caught Covid-19, Bruce dismissed the reports as “fake news” before insisting his team would stay up.

“I’m quietly confident we will achieve that [staying up],” he added.

“We did it quite comfortably last year, so we know that the group of players are capable.” Meanwhile, Dean Smith will serve a one-match ban for Newcastle’s visit after he “reluctantly” accepted a Football Association charge of misconduct. The Villa head coach was furious during the 2-0 defeat by Manchester City on Wednesday night, when referee Jonathan Moss allowed a goal from Bernardo Silva, despite Rodri being offside.

Smith was sent off for his protests, which included asking the officials if they got juggling balls for Christmas, and was charged for using abusive and/ or insulting language towards a match official. “I reluctantly accept the charge for insulting the officials because I certainly didn’t abuse them,” he said. “I don’t really regret it. That’s just my way of dealing with the situation, a touch of sarcasm.”