Imagine him and Saint-Maximin: Newcastle must start Ryan Fraser vs Watford | OneFootball

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Football FanCast

·25 September 2021

Imagine him and Saint-Maximin: Newcastle must start Ryan Fraser vs Watford

Article image:Imagine him and Saint-Maximin: Newcastle must start Ryan Fraser vs Watford

After only managing to get a point against Leeds United last week, Newcastle will be hoping to finally pick up their first win of the new Premier League season when they face Watford on Saturday afternoon.

Steve Bruce’s side were involved in an action-packed clash against the Whites which saw Allan Saint-Maximin net a superb solo goal to ensure that the Tyneside club didn’t come away empty-handed.


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However, with the Magpies still firmly in the relegation zone heading into the game at Vicarage Road, they could desperately do with adding some more attacking intent – starting with giving Saint-Maximin a partner in crime.

Since joining from Bournemouth on a free transfer back in September 2020, it’s fair to say that Ryan Fraser hasn’t exactly set the world alight at St James’ Park.

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The £9m-rated Scotland international has struggled for both form and fitness on Tyneside, making just 27 appearances to date and scoring only one goal for his current club.

In his real standout campaign with Bournemouth back in 2018/19, though, Fraser racked up seven goals and a whopping 14 assists, proving that he can perform at Premier League level when he’s on song.

His former Bournemouth teammate Eunan O’Kane said: “Ryan has got the world at his feet. He has taken him time to settle, but he has learnt a lot in the six months he has been here. For me he is a dream. I just give him the ball and stand behind him and let him do what he does. He is an outlet and can run with the ball and gives us a different option.”

Meanwhile, former Celtic ace Charlie Nicholas added: “What I like is that he is a little pocket dynamo. He is quite an old-fashioned type of player – what we used to call a tanner ba’ – from the days when Scottish players were very popular. He has a little bit of that.”

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The 59-year-old continued: “What he does understand is when he gets the ball and is allowed to run at people and be expressive. That is when he is at his finest. It is nice to see a Scot with this kind of creative, natural talent that we don’t obviously have enough of at international level.”

Given the incredible reliance that Newcastle put on Saint-Maximin to be their main goalscorer and creator, having Fraser in the starting line-up would give the Frenchman some much-needed support.

It could be the kind of game-changing move which finally swings things Newcastle’s way.

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