![](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_912,h_516,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/southampton-fc-v-newcastle-united-premier-league-5e690c16827814b76a000001.jpg?main_image=true&imageType=.jpg)
Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce has heaped praise on winger Allan Saint-Maximin and stated he could be 'a hell of a player' for the Magpies going forward.
The former Nice winger has quickly become a fan favourite at St James' Park thanks to his attacking flair and dribbling skills, with a match-winning goal against Southampton recently going some way to reinforcing the 22-year-old's status among supporters of the Tyneside club.
Having just recovered from a hamstring problem, the winger looks set to reach the potential Bruce had hoped for when he spent an initial £16m on the Frenchman. A goal and two assists in his last two games certainly suggest he will be a key player for the north east club.
And speaking to the BBC after the win over the Saints, the 59-year-old spoke in glowing terms about his new signing's talent, calling him a 'scary' player.
![Jordan Mansfield/GettyImages Steve Bruce](https://media.minutemediacdn.com/process?url=https%3A%2F%2F90min-images-original.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fproduction%2Fsouthampton-fc-v-newcastle-united-premier-league-5e690669718250ba7800000b.jpg&filters%5Bcrop%5D%5Bw%5D=0.9058201058201057&filters%5Bcrop%5D%5Bh%5D=0.9714285714285714&filters%5Bcrop%5D%5Bo_x%5D=0.03197012138188609&filters%5Bcrop%5D%5Bo_y%5D=0.022857142857142857&filters%5Bquality%5D%5Btarget%5D=80&type=.jpg&filters%5Bresize%5D%5Bw%5D=630&filters%5Bresize%5D%5Bh%5D=472)
"He is always a threat, wants to get past you and that is a dying art. He has that natural ability in abundance."
![Sebastian Frej/MB Media/GettyImages Allan Saint-Maximin](https://media.minutemediacdn.com/process?url=https%3A%2F%2F90min-images-original.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fproduction%2Fcrystal-palace-v-newcastle-united-premier-league-5e690faf8278141f77000001.jpg&filters%5Bcrop%5D%5Bw%5D=0.8888888888888888&filters%5Bcrop%5D%5Bh%5D=1.0&filters%5Bcrop%5D%5Bo_x%5D=0.0&filters%5Bcrop%5D%5Bo_y%5D=0.0&filters%5Bquality%5D%5Btarget%5D=80&type=.jpg&filters%5Bresize%5D%5Bw%5D=630&filters%5Bresize%5D%5Bh%5D=472)
Saint-Maximin started his career in 2013 at Ligue 1 club Saint-Étienne, before moving to Monaco in 2015. Loan spells at Hannover 96 and Bastia were followed by a move to Nice in 2017, before the Premier League club swooped in to sign the 22-year-old before the start of this season.
Source : 90min