Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has said that Allan Saint-Maximin has a "long-term future" at the Premier League club.
The French attacker is a huge fan favourite at St James' Park but has struggled for form and consistency this year and is without a goal since January.
There have been reports that Saint-Maximin, who moved to Tyneside from Nice for £16.5 million in 2019, could be sold this summer as the club's new era under their Saudi-backed owners kicks into gear.
But Howe, whose team take on Wolves in the Premier League on Friday, said they are not looking to sell the 25-year-old: "I've got a great relationship with Maxi," he said.
"I've really enjoyed working with him and we need him at his very best levels as he could potentially be the difference. He's an incredible talent and of course he has a long-term future at the club."
Having dragged themselves away from the bottom three with an unbeaten eight-game unbeaten run at the start of the year, Newcastle have since lost three games in a row - the last of which a 5-1 thrashing at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
The Mapgies currently sit 15th in the table, seven points from safety, but face the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal in a tricky run-in.
Asked if the players had seen a different manager this week after the Spurs drubbing, Howe – whose side faces Wolves, Leicester and Crystal Palace in back-to-back home games after four on the trot on the road – said: “Certainly this week, without going into too much detail, I’ve maybe changed the way I’ve dealt with the players or certain situations because I didn’t like what I saw in the second half and I think no-one connected with the club liked what they saw in the second half.
Tottenham 5 Newcastle 1: player ratings
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TOTTENHAM RATINGS: Hugo Lloris – 6 The Frenchman looked shaky when tested and should have done better when Schar’s free-kick squeezed through his wall and into the bottom corner. EPA -
Cristian Romero – 7 The Atalanta loanee proved exactly why he continues a run in the team, denying a storming run from Saint-Maximin before sliding in last-minute to block Willock in front of goal. Action Images -
Eric Dier – 7 The 28-year-old was unable to find the target as his shot curled wide of the post in the opening stages of the game. It was the defender’s determination to win the ball, which sent Spurs forward for their fifth goal. PA -
Ben Davies – 7 In a moment of end-to-end action, the Welshman provided the response to going behind when he connected with Son’s cross to score his first Premier League goal since March 2017. EPA -
Emerson Royal – 7 The Brazilian was the only change for Antonio Conte’s side, replacing the injured Sergio Reguilon. Despite looking promising on the attack, he had Romero to thank defensively having been bypassed by Saint-Maximin in the first half. Action Images -
Rodrigo Bentancur – 7 The former Juventus man saw his early effort deflected out for a corner as Spurs put pressure on their opponents. He was forced to intervene in the second half to stop Targett’s cross into the box. Booked. Getty -
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 7 The Denmark international was unable to convert when Kulusevski sent in an appealing ball, heading the chance over. Reuters -
Matt Doherty – 8 In his sixth successive start, Doherty proved to be in the right place at the right time when Kane’s cross fell for the Irishman to head home. He then brushed off Murphy to get a cross into Emerson for Spurs’ fourth. EPA -
Dejan Kulusevski – 8 The Swede sent in a delightful ball from the right to the back post, with Hojbjerg heading just over. Another terrific long helped to launch Kane on a run down the wing to cross to Son for Spurs’ third. Reuters -
Heung-min Son – 8 The Korean sent in a brilliant cross for Davies to head home, before netting his 14th league goal, thanks to hard work down the wing by Kane. He could have had another 10 minutes later. Getty -
Harry Kane – 9 The Englishman brushed off Newcastle’s defence to send in an excellent cross for Doherty to nod home, before moments later chasing Kulusevski’s long ball to cross for Son. Nearly created a fifth for Spurs and caused plenty of trouble. Booked. Action Images -
SUBS: Lucas Moura (Kulusevski 76’) – N/R An instant impact as he nudged the ball for Bergwijn to run on to and slot home. Getty Images -
Harry Winks (Bentacur 76’) – N/R In an attempt to join in the fun, Winks was happy to unleash an effort from outside the box which narrowly missed the top corner. Getty -
Steven Bergwijn (Emerson 81’) – N/R Dutch forward likely felt hard-done by to be benched and made his point when Moura squeezed the ball through for him to slot home. Nearly volleyed a second. EPA -
NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka – 4 Was unable to keep out Davies’ point-blank header and stood little chance with what was to come. AFP -
Javier Manquillo – 4 Sprinting from the half-way line, Manquillo did well to track back to deny Son in the aftermath of Schar’s opener. Reuters -
Fabian Schar – 5 The Swiss broke the deadlock when his low free-kick found space in the wall to squeeze past Lloris in the only positive of the afternoon. AFP -
Dan Burn – 4 Booked for a sliding tackle on Kane, much to the centre-back’s dismay. The boyhood Newcastle fan was left in disarray trying to keep Kane at bay as he dominated play in the second half. EPA -
Matt Targett – 4 Despite being attached to Emerson’s hip, the former Aston Villa left back was unable to get ahead of his counterpart to stop him poking home Doherty’s cross. Reuters -
Joelinton – 4 Booked in a coming together before half-time, it was the Brazilian to be sacrificed as Spurs scored their third of the game. Action Images -
Jonjo Shelvey – 4 Handed the captain’s armband, Shelvey was unable to make an impact to inspire his team despite providing the most passes of his teammates. PA -
Joe Willock – 6 Providing one of Newcastle’s most promising chances, the former Arsenal youngster weaved through several white shirts before Romero was forced to intervene before he could pull the trigger. PA -
Ryan Fraser – 4 Continuing to be a regular under his former Bournemouth boss, but it was a disappointing display. EPA -
Chris Wood – 4 In an effort to put his side on level terms just after the break, the New Zealand forward shot just wide of Lloris’ post. Action Images -
Allan Saint-Maximin – 6 Making his first start since February, the Frenchman looked to use his pace in rare moments of possession for his side. Booked. Action Images -
SUBS: Jacob Murphy (Joelinton 59’) – 5 Part of a double change, Murphy was unable to stop Doherty cutting back to send in the ball for Emerson’s goal. AFP -
Bruno Guimaraes (Manquillo 59’) – 5 Having returned from international duty with Brazil, Bruno was benched and was kept busy trying to make an impact to limit Spurs. Action Images -
Jamaal Lascelles (Wood 70’) – N/R A defensive change but it was of little impact to the game. Action Images
“Look, I embrace the wins and I love that positive feeling, and I want to see other people happy, I want to see our supporters enjoying success. That’s my motivation to do the job.
“But I don’t think it’s healthy for me to get caught up in it and become a person of extreme emotion, I don’t think that’s going to help my players at all, so staying calm, using my brain to think logically and intelligently, I think, are the things that I need.
“When we went on our unbeaten run, I was the same, probably sat here and you’re thinking, ‘Come on, give us a bit more’. But then on the other side of it, I’m exactly the same.
“It doesn’t mean that I don’t feel the emotion because I do. Losing for me is very painful, but it’s important I don’t get caught up in it because then I’ve got another game to prepare for, so it’s making sure I do my job effectively to help the players perform in the next match.”
Howe will make a late decision on midfielder Joe Willock, who has been nursing a knee problem for several weeks, ahead of the Wolves game, while Paraguayan attacker Miguel Almiron is fit after recovering from illness.
