Newcastle United: Toon Army slam Craig Hope’s latest update on Allan Saint-Maximin

The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope has come under heavy fire from a large number of the Toon Army after making further allegations concerning Steve Bruce’s relationship with Allan Saint-Maximin.

Hope reported last week the Frenchman was unhappy at being left out during the draw with Burnley last weekend and fell out with the Magpies boss. The football correspondent went on to claim in an article on Sunday that “the player felt as if he was being portrayed as someone who was not up for the fight.”

And, after Bruce disputed Hope’s claims, Saint-Maximin scored the crucial decider in the game against Southampton on Saturday in a sublime display of skill and pace. The 22-year-old capitalised on a mistake from Saints’ defender Yan Valery and finished past Alex McCarthy (BBC).

The French forward has now scored 2 goals and created 2 assists in the Premier League this season. His current market value is estimated at £22.5m via Transfermarkt.

[freshpress-poll id=”283384″]

Saint-Maximin posted a picture of Bruce and himself on Twitter celebrating the win at the weekend, evidently firing shots at Hope’s claims. Plenty of fans have now reacted angrily after Hope dug his hole even further, with one suggesting the journalist is “flogging a dead horse” while another called his antics ‘ridiculous’.

Take a look at some of the funniest reactions we’ve found so far…

You're flogging a dead horse now.

The 'not happy' comment has been taken out of context. He's simply said, like any player, it was disappointing not to start. Doesn't mean there's been a row & his future is in doubt!

This picture HE posted says a lot – yet you're still going.. pic.twitter.com/1WtVF7DGLp

— NUFCBlog.co.uk (@NUFCblogcouk) March 8, 2020

https://twitter.com/GraemeBell_NUFC/status/1236629679483781121?s=20

Ridiculous. Move on man. Show me 1 professional footballer who wouldn't be happy when left out of the starting 11.

— ◾Carl◾ (@Tyneside82) March 8, 2020

Craig, take the L

— Macca (@MaccaNUFC) March 8, 2020

I’m not a Steve Bruce fan but he was right, you’re doing everything you can to derail things. Continuing with the same non-story shows bitterness and is frankly embarrassing.

— Mark (@Mark74NUFC) March 8, 2020