Newcastle boss Howe details response to critical Saint-Maximin interview | OneFootball

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has held a squad meeting about Allan Saint-Maximin's interview this week.

Speaking with French magazine So Foot, the player appeared to criticise his colleagues when implying he would have more assists if they were able to convert the chances he creates.

He said: "The day I have a player capable of finishing actions, I will make seasons with 10-15 assists, and I will change dimensions in people's heads."

Howe has insisted he wants to keep the player and is keen to avoid any fallout from the interview.

"I don't think I will be fining him, it is more a case of education and making sure players know what we expect of them," he said.

"We will be speaking with the squad and making sure there's no fallout from that, because unity has been our strength. It's vitally important we keep that at all costs.

"But I think I need to make this clear that Allan's quotes didn't come across in the way he meant them to. He was concerned yesterday (Thursday). We spoke, and in no way did he mean to damage the team and the unity we've built.

"If he had meant those comments in the way they have come across and been published, then he wouldn't have been in my office concerned about the reaction.

"Of course, he said things in an interview, but it wasn't in the context that he meant, although it happened."

Howe added: "Ideally, I would not want any of my players speaking about anything other than themselves and their own careers. I don't think players need to talk about their players or players from other clubs.

"It's all about our club. It is about protecting the team and everything we do, giving off united and positive messages even in difficult moments, and that can be tough."

Saint-Maximin issued a statement on Twitter in response to the backlash.

He said: "The interview I did with So Foot has been taken out of context and shortened on Twitter.

"I never said anything negative about my team-mates, I simply said as any Newcastle fan would that I was looking forward to having an even better team so that we could progress collectively and that as a result I could also progress individually."