NEWCASTLE star Allan Saint-Maximin gets fined every day for wearing earrings at the club’s training ground, according to Jonjo Shelvey.
The French winger has established himself as a firm fans’ favourite since his switch from Nice last summer due to both his dribbling ability and eccentric personality.
The 24-year-old grabbed plenty of attention when he donned a £180 Gucci headband during a match, which he was forced to cover up the branding on to avoid falling foul of Premier League sponsorship regulations.
While Newcastle boss Steve Bruce once admitted that Saint-Maximin had been given a £100 ‘every other day’ for earring offences.
But Shelvey has revealed the Frenchman’s outstanding form on the pitch helps him avoid falling out of favour with his training antics.
The former Liverpool star also paid tribute to Saint-Maximin for working on the defensive side of his game.
Shelvey told the Beautiful Game podcast: “He’s a lunatic. He’s class, man, some player. He’s some guy as well.
If he weren’t that good, you’d probably have the hump with him but when he’s that good, you don’t really want to have a go at him
Jonjo Shelvey on Allan Saint-Maximin
“He’s just one of them who’s so laid back. Head to toe in designer gear.
“He gets fined every day because he’s got earrings in and stuff like that but if he weren’t that good, you’d probably have the hump with him but when he’s that good, you don’t really want to have a go at him.
“He’s been outstanding. For me, as a midfield player, you try and get you’re head up and we’re a team that plays on the counter-attack so we just have to try and get the ball to him and let him try and dribble around 20 players.
“He’s so quick – you just don’t know what he’s going do with the ball – and he’s so raw with his skill.
“He’s improved a lot defensively because when he first signed, he didn’t really want to track back and things like that but the gaffer’s got him doing that.
“That’s just going to make him even better.
“I remember the goal he scored against Sheffield United with his head – the leap. That was up there with [Cristiano] Ronaldo’s leaping and you don’t see him in the gym or anything like that.
“He’s just one of those footballers who’s got the electric pace and I can’t speak highly enough of him.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
