Having enjoyed a solid debut year in the English game, there was naturally a lot of excitement around Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin. Having been heavily linked with clubs back in France before coming to England, he was seen as a high-risk wide player who could offer the Magpies something different – if he could maintain his attitude.

After a mostly exemplary first season, then, hope is high on Tyneside that ASM can go to the next level. And with a year experiencing the aggressive nature of English football, he’s likely to thrive even more.

What makes him so special?

Watch him for five minutes and it soon becomes apparent why ASM is such a highly exciting talent; he can move. His dribbling is some of the most effective in the league, with his ability to pierce teams on the break making him a vital weapon for Newcastle.

He’s also great at wining fouls, which given the Toon are a solid set-piece team can only be a good thing for the player. He’s also a great distance shooter, giving him the opportunity to really crack them from distance and cause keepers problems.

Unlike most wide players today, too, his passing is excellent and he can lay teammates in as well as he can take the ball on himself. However, one thing to note is that he has a habit of holding on to the ball for a needless period of time. This can cause issues, though his natural strength means that he can hold off opponents and hold the ball up briefly.

It would be hard to say what his one stand-out attribute is outside of his pace, but he’s a very accomplished young player. With another year of development to come in England, he could really take the next step in 2020-21.