Steve Bruce has claimed that Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron are his two best players, per Northern Echo.
What did he say?
The Newcastle manager was talking ahead of the Toon’s match with Oxford on Tuesday in the FA Cup fourth-round replay.
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Discussing the team’s system, he said: “We haven’t been more entertaining, that’s the wrong word, but we have played well in this system. To play well in this system, our two best players, Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin, have to play well and on Saturday and last week, they didn’t play well enough. Allan is just coming back from a hamstring, so he’ll be better.”
Big shout
The Magpies currently sit in 12th place in the Premier League at the moment, but have managed a paltry 24 goals in 25 matches so far this term. Going forward, there is a clear lack of talent across the board. Joelinton, for example, the team’s record signing, has managed just one goal in 24 Premier League starts.
Saint-Maximin though, has been in good form. The 22-year-old has picked up a WhoScored rating of 7.12 across the campaign which, bar Nabil Bentaleb – who has only made one league appearance – is the best amongst all of his teammates, and he has picked up one goal and two assists in all competitions. He has had his injury problems, but there is arguably no other Newcastle player as exciting as the former Nice man.
It is perhaps a bit of stretch to mention Almiron, though. He does have four goals and one assist so far this term, but that came after the best part of 12 months without either with the St. James’ Park outfit. With a WhoScored rating of just 6.67, 13 players have done better than him for Bruce’s side.
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As shown by his spell at Atlanta United – he scored 22 goals and provided 21 assists in 70 matches – he has something about him.
But it is a little premature to mention him as one of the side’s best two players – he still has some way to go.
Meanwhile, Newcastle fans slam Steve Bruce’s latest comments.
