Magpies’ ‘wild card’ concerns ex-manager

FORMER Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness has questioned the application and work-rate of Newcastle United ‘wild card’ Allan Saint-Maximin.

The former Nice forward has quickly established himself as a fan favourite in his debut season on Tyneside, and grabbed the winner in the Magpies’ last outing at Southampton in March.

However, question marks have been raised over the 23-year-old’s application in the past, with former manager Patrick Vieira previously criticising Saint-Maximin for believing talent is enough to succeed at the ‘highest level’.

Souness – who managed the Magpies from 2004 until 2006 – highlighted Saint-Maximin as United’s ‘one to watch’ in his review of each Premier League’s standout performer.

However, the Liverpool legend admits the verdict from Vieira regarding the Magpies’ ‘wild card’ is one that concerns him.

Souness wrote in the Times: “He gets you excited, but he’s a wild card. Patrick Vieira managed him at Nice and his verdict concerns me: ‘Allan’s problem is that sadly he thinks that talent is enough to go to the highest level. He needs to understand that he needs to work, to make sacrifices, to suffer’.”

Saint-Maximin addressed the concerns over his work ethic in a interview with France Football, insisting he does not agree with the “vanity” of posting videos of his training behind the scenes.

He added: “People think that I do nothing, that I live on my ‘natural’ qualities. I am not someone who likes to show what he does, who shows up every time he goes to the room, posting photos, videos. Perhaps because I am a believer too and in my faith it is not necessarily good to always display what we do, as a form of vanity.”