Newcastle United: Player of the Month selections for October
By Durim Halimi
Newcastle United claimed some positive results in October, but who was the club’s top performer this month?
October was a kind month for Newcastle United. The team bounced back from that 5-0 defeat to Leicester City at the end of September with a victory over Manchester United and a draw against Wolverhampton. The Magpies did suffer one defeat on the road against Chelsea, but Steve Bruce’s side was competitive and almost stole a point.
Collective effort and urgency played a major role in these positive results, but one player stood out more than others with their performances. Carson and I break down our analysis and share our selections for who we believe is worthy of claiming October’s Player of the Month award.
Carson Merk
Player of the Month: Allan Saint-Maximin
This was a tough call. In October, we saw the picture-perfect debut of Matty Longstaff, quality defending and a crucial header from Jamaal Lascelles, and some big saves from Martin Dubravka. But, the Player of the Month for me is Allan Saint-Maximin. While each of those aforementioned players had positive matches or moments, ASM was the most consistent performer.
With pace, dribbling ability, and a fearless playing style, the summer-signing was a gamechanger in the matches vs. Man. United, Chelsea, and Wolves. As Newcastle United struggle to hold onto possession through passing, Saint-Maximin’s able to take the ball from deep in the defensive half into dangerous areas in the attacking zone. Across October, he pushed the action, nutmegging talented players like Willian, and showcased what he can be when fully fit.
Durim Halimi
Player of the Month: Allan Saint-Maximin
My selection for this month’s top player is Allan Saint-Maximin. The French winger finally recovered from a lingering hamstring injury that kept him off the pitch for the first few matches of the season, but he has quickly become a fan favorite because of his form on the pitch. Saint-Maximin was the most problematic and dynamic player for the Toon in all three matches this month.
His performance against Manchester United, a match where the opposition has no solution in place for containing him, showed me just how dangerous Saint-Maximin can be on the ball offensively. His brilliant setup of Matty Longstaff’s goal helped the squad claim all three points at home, and he maintained the same level of energy and consistency against Chelsea the following week. If the 22 year old winger can keep this good run of form going I do not think it will be long before he scores his first goal for the Magpies.