Allan Saint-Maximin's exquisite skills are "impossible to coach" but Steve Bruce has played down suggestions that he is dealing with "a maverick" - as suggested by Super Sunday pundit Graeme Souness last weekend.
The former Newcastle manager felt that the Magpies' results could be determined on whether the winger turns up in games.
Saint-Maximin provided Callum Wilson with an outrageous assist last week in the 4-2 defeat at home to West Ham United, but Bruce is delighted with his star man.
When asked his thoughts on Souness' views, Bruce said: "I will say he's different.
"With Allan, he is a very likeable lad and clever but the one thing you can't deny is when he's at his best and playing well then he's a threat to any defender.
"What he does (in terms of onfield skills), it's impossible to coach.
"He's a little bit different, a bit off the wall. Off the cuff.
"But he's a very good footballer and very decent man too."
Saint-Maximin missed a large chunk of last season through Covid, and was then missing during pre-season with an unspecified illness.
Bruce added: "Our big challenge is to keep him well and keep him healthy.
"We want to keep him at the level he was at last week.
"His assist for Callum Wilson had 50,000 or so off their feet.
