‘ALLAN HAS TO ADA BIT MORE’

French star Allan SaintMaximin, and Spanish muscleman Adama Traore are on opposite sides when Newcastle travel to Wolves today.

But they are cast in the same mould. Powerful, pacy dribblers, and a defender’s nightmare on their day.

For their respective fan bases, Saint- Maximin and Traore are the shining lights who turn on the style and lift their team out of the ordinary.

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce has challenged Saint-Maximin to match the consistency and all-round play that Traore has discovered under Wanderers’ coach Nuno Espirito Santo.

And Bruce reckons Traore is one of the true top-class gems Wolv e s hav e brought together that has turned them into an outfit capable of consecutive top-seven finishes.

Bruce said: “Allan and Traore are very similar – explosive pace, outstanding pace.

“Traore has matured over the last two to three years too.

“He has matured his final pass, his delivery, his all-round consistency. We have all seen the development.

“That has got to be the same with Allan too.

“They are both very, very exciting to watch, and on the day are match winners.”

So who is better?

Saint- Maximin has a goal and an assist in the

Premier League this season, while Traore

(right) is yet to get off the mark.

They’ve both had three shots – two on target for

THREAT Newcastle’s Allan Saint-Maximin is a nightmare for defenders the Toon star, none for Traore. But when it comes to team play Traore is ahead with 83 passes to 67.

The former Boro man also leads 17-6 in crosses and 8-3 in tackles. But Saint-Maximin is 2-0 up on ‘ big chances created’.

Beyond the recent stats, Saint-Maximin still needs to up his all-round game to get to Traore’s influential level and drag Newcastle into the top 10.

Bruce said: “I look at Wolves and go back to the Championship – and how they had four or five of these same players in the second tier I don’t know. “They were absolutely incredible.

“The best team I had seen playing down in the Championship for years. Fair play to them how they have done it and got the players they have got. How they did it, you can only ask them.

“Certainly we aspire to be up and around where Wolves have been for two to three years. The difficulty always is to sustain it.

“They have got really good players and keep investing in good players. Whoever is in the top 10 we aspire to get there with them. That is our aim.”

Jonjo Shelvey is facing a lay-off and medical treatment for his persistent groin injury.

Bruce said: “Jonjo has been carrying a bit of an injury. He puts himself out there when maybe he shouldn’t.

“He has had a sore groin and he has played but it has come to the stage when he is not going to be able to.

“I have nothing but the hugest respect for him. Most players would not be playing with the injury. We will address that over the next three weeks.”