Former England international Paul Robinson has sung the praises of Newcastle United forward Allan Saint-Maximin, following the Frenchman’s match-winning performance against Oxford in our FA Cup Fourth Round Replay.
Saint-Maximin started the clash at the Kassam Stadium among the substitutes as head coach Steve Bruce named a modified line-up, by returning to a 5-3-2 for only the second time since the Magpies lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal on the opening day of the season.
But the boss was forced into an early change after £40million club-record signing Joelinton sustained a suspected fractured rib just minutes after scoring, with Saint-Maximin coming on to replace the Brazilian.
The 5 ft 8 forward would find himself heavily involved in the action once introduced shortly before half time, and came close to assisting a match-winning effort by Sean Longstaff as the full-time whistle loomed.
Extra-time was on the cards after a spirited late comeback from Oxford, though Saint-Maximin used the bonus half-hour to flourish by lashing home the decisive goal from the edge of the box.
Former England goalkeeper Robinson, capped 41 times by the Three Lions, was mightily impressed by Saint-Maximin’s performance and feels as if our £20m signing is firmly finding his feet in the country.
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“I think he’s really coming into his own,” Robinson told Football Insider. “I liked him at the beginning of the season, you could see there was a player there.
“He got his injury just as he was starting to score goals and assists, [but] he’s starting to be the player that Steve Bruce signed.
“I think he’s going to be a real, real good player for Newcastle this season.”
Robinson was not the only one to be impressed by Saint-Maximin’s display in the FA Cup, as many of the St. James’ Park faithful took to social media to share their thoughts after he tormented Oxford with pure skill in the final seconds of the game.
If he is able to maintain that level of confidence going forward, and replicates his thunderous match-winning strike, Saint-Maximin certainly will be able to become a “real, real good player” in the North East.
It was already made clear over the festive period just how key the Frenchman is to making Bruce’s plans tick, when his injury lay-off presented a woeful glimpse into the dynamic we lose without the 22-year-old on the field.
In other Newcastle United news, the club are plotting a summer swoop for a 14-goal forward.