Allan Saint-Maximin is Newcastle United’s most talented player and easily the most dangerous attacking threat at the disposal of manager Eddie Howe. Getting the best out of such a mercurial talent on a consistent basis, though, is an issue and a problem Howe has not yet solved.

At times, Saint-Maximin is unplayable and for the best part of two years on Tyneside, he was the most important player in the squad because of his ability to win games.

The Frenchman’s skill and flair also provided much needed excitement and entertainment amid the largely pragmatic, but dreary, football under former manager Steve Bruce as Newcastle fought to avoid relegation.

But Saint-Maximin is also capable of producing infuriating performances, where attacking opportunities are wasted because he refuses to pass the ball or he loses possession far too often and leaves his team exposed.

Having taken the rough with the smooth for most of his time in the Premier League, Newcastle are no longer the same club or team and perceptions, as well as expectations, have changed. The question is, can Saint-Maximin thrive at the new Newcastle United after shining so brightly in the old one?

Why has Saint-Maximin started only one game in the last seven?

As Newcastle evolved into a different sort of team under Howe, where the individual’s wants and needs are far less important than the collective, Saint-Maximin’s place is no longer assured. Especially away from home, when the team needs to keep its shape and everyone needs to work on the defensive side of the game, Saint-Maximin has become a luxury player. That means Howe has a selection call to make rather than automatically write the Frenchman’s name on the team sheet.

That is not a negative thing. It is healthy for a manager to have those sorts of decisions to make and every player needs to realise they are not undroppable. Saint-Maximin has been left out of the starting XI under Howe through choice as well as necessity.

However, the main reason he has not been playing is injuries and illness. The winger picked up a calf injury during the 1-0 win over Aston Villa on February 13 and has not really been fully fit since. He has also been ill which hampered the speed of his return.

The fact Newcastle had three away games on the spin before the international break also did not help Saint-Maximin get straight back into the team and he was used as an impact substitute in the defeats to Chelsea and Everton. The troubling thing – which has led to some criticism of the player from a small section of fans – is that Saint-Maximin did not play well on either occasion and the game slipped away from them when he was on the pitch.

“Maxi is certainly a unique footballer,” explained Howe. “I’ve never coached anyone quite like him, and that’s a positive thing. Some of the things he can do and some of the things he’s done in the last two weeks training-wise have been very, very good to see.

“But it’s about harnessing that and trying to make that function for the team. Maxi is very keen to make a difference, he’s very keen to do well for the team, he cares passionately about the club, so I’m excited to see what he can deliver [in the remaining nine games.]

Is there a problem between the winger and Howe?

The manager has frequently and passionately denied this is the case. He is a huge fan of Saint-Maximin both in public and private. Sources have told Telegraph Sport that Howe was shocked to learn that the player has been criticised by some supporters and is extremely defensive of him. The relationship between them is a good one.

Has there been tension at times? Yes. Saint-Maximin is a maverick, playing and training like one. He is a free spirit and is constantly being fined for poor time keeping and other small lapses in discipline. It was the same under Bruce, who loved the player.