EDDIE Howe has sent a clear hands-off message to clubs interested in signing Allan Saint-Maximin in the summer, with the winger a big part of Newcastle's plans for the future.

Saint-Maximin has only started 10 Premier League games for the Magpies this season but has been in the starting XI for seven of the last eight fixtures and put in his best performance of the campaign when he tormented Manchester United on Sunday.

The 26-year-old was a wanted man in the January window but Newcastle put a stop to any mid-season move. And their stance will be unchanged in the summer, with Inter Milan plotting a permanent move for the winger.

Howe made his feelings clear. Asked whether Saint-Maximin remains a big part of his plans for the future, the head coach said: "Without a doubt, I wouldn't be picking him in the team if he wasn't part of the now and the future because I don't believe in that.

"The rest is up to Allan. Allan has to perform week in, week out to maintain his standing in the group.

"That's the same for any player. We really like him, we really respect him, he can make a difference for us."

Saint-Maximin says he's a "different player" to what he was when he arrived at Newcastle in 2019 and believes he's more professional now than he's ever been.

"I think certainly there are things that we really believe in, we set a structure in place that we want the players to follow," said Howe when asked whether he'd seen any change in Saint-Maximin since his arrival at the club.

"Allan has followed that. The same as everyone else. His behaviour day to day has been very good. No issues, no problems, he's been fine."

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While Howe wants his side to be disciplined and follow a clear tactical structure, he is also well aware of the importance of giving mercurial players like Saint-Maximin the freedom to do what they're good at.

He said: "There is a train of thought that everyone is different and you have to try and know their differences and respect their differences but still try and get them to conform to the basic principles that you believe in.

"Allan is such a unique talent I wouldn't coach Allan the way I would coach another player because you want his natural instincts and flair to still be relevant.

"I wouldn't want to change Maxi's game in many ways but there are certain things I think we can improve and help him with.

"I think from my perspective you have to get the balance right between getting the team to function without taking away that natural ability.

"I thought he gave a really good all-round performance on Sunday. He's a natural dribbler, everyone knows that, but his decision making of when to dribble and when to pass was very good. He got an assist so the end product was there and defensively he was diligent, so I am delighted with him."