Newcastle United journalist Luke Edwards has moved to quash any suggestion that Allan Saint-Maximin has become unsettled at St James' Park.

The lowdown

The 25-year-old hasn't started a game for the Magpies for around a month now. He missed the trips to West Ham United and Brentford with a minor injury before returning as a substitute for the win over Brighton and Hove Albion in early March.

Having been absent once again for the midweek visit to Southampton, he came off the bench for the final 20 minutes of the defeat against Chelsea on Sunday.

The latest

Edwards took to Twitter on Sunday morning to explain the reasons behind Saint-Maximin's recent absences, strongly refuting any apparent claims that the Frenchman is unsettled on Tyneside.

The Telegraph journalist stated: "Allan Saint Maximin has been feeling unwell. So before the rumours of disenchantment and unrest start being spread by fake in-the-know types, there is nothing more to his absence from midweek game than that. His relationship with club, teammates and manager is very good."

The verdict

What reason would £38,500-per-week forward have to be unhappy at Newcastle?

After facing the threat of relegation earlier in the season (even enduring a spell at the very bottom of the table), they are now a club on the up. In fact, since Matchweek 20, they are actually third in the Premier League form table, trailing only the title-chasing duo of Liverpool and Manchester City.

Also, given that Saint-Maximin leads the squad for goal contributions with eight, he could well be a player around whom the club's mega-rich owners are looking to build their hugely ambitious project.

Edwards' strongly-worded tweet should allay any fears there may have been among the Toon Army that the French maestro would be ticked off with life on Tyneside.

In other news, read this insider's claim on Harry Kane's links with Newcastle