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Sean McCormick

The Newcastle player coaches are solely focusing on, according to one pundit

When Newcastle United needed a match-winner against Oxford United in their FA Cup fourth-round replay, Allan Saint-Maximin scored a brilliant solo goal to seal an extra-time victory.

With Newcastle now in the quarter-finals of the competition, that goal proved to be vital.

And heading into overtime at the Kassam Stadium, there was only one man Newcastle's coaching staff concentrated on according to former Leeds and Sheffield United star Michael Brown.

Now a fledgling TV pundit, Brown believes that showed how Newcastle's chances of success live or die by the performances of the flamboyant Frenchman.

He told Football Insider: “It’s going into extra-time and all the players are looking for some leaders.

"[Steve] Clemence and Steve Bruce have not even addressed the team, all they’re talking to is Saint-Maximin, which says to me he either wins you it or loses it from where he goes to stand.

“It’s about consistency, not being a show pony, literally doing tricks, flicks, stepovers which he does try and do, but when he’s hot, he’s hot.

Allan Saint-Maximin of Newcastle United (Getty Images)

“Is he Adama Traore all over again? I say Adama Traore, he’s been more consistent, but Saint-Maximin, he’s got the tools.

“When you can do what he can do with that football and have the pace and power, then you’ve got an opportunity.”

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