DOESN’T defend enough, won’t track back, tries to do too much himself, ball greedy: these are all criticisms levelled at Newcastle United’s Allan Saint-Maximin from sections of the St James’s crowd — and they draw an interesting parallel to another French Magpies great.

David Ginola frustrated and delighted in equal measure for the fans on Tyneside in the 1990s.

Long-haired, cool, sophisticated and stylish, the winger signed from Paris St Germain for £2.5 million by Kevin Keegan displayed exquisite ball control and breath-taking skills in the attacking third. But it was his defending that left the Gallowgate a little cold. 

The great contradiction in Newcastle is that the black & whites love a flair player. Nothing gets the crowd out of their seats and cranks up the noise like someone running at defenders with the ball at their feet — except someone getting stuck in.

Just look at Joelinton.

The Brazilian was a flop at centre-forward. Couldn’t hit a barn door with a shovel. But since dropping back into the midfield, powering into tackles and laying the ball off easy, he’s on the way to becoming a cult hero. 

Fellow Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes has been an instant hit with the fans with his sublime touches and wonderful array of passes.

But that low grumble is always there just below the surface: not tracking back enough. Not crunching into opponents. Remember Ben Arfa and the criticism of him being lazy despite his unbelievable dribbling talent? 

So-called luxury players might frustrate, but it is their ability to do the unexpectable and light up a game in an instant that makes them worth paying the cash at the turnstile for.

You can go down to a local match and see players getting stuck in, working their socks off and sweating with graft. 

It’s a much rarer sight to see Ginola juggling the ball on the edge of the Ferencvaros box before volleying into the roof of the net or Saint-Maximin producing the technique and skill that he displayed to volley home against Wolves on Sunday.

The generous Saint-Maximin spent a day meeting fans before treating a load of kids to a toy of their choice at the Gateshead Metrocentre a fortnight ago.

He handed a fan a designer watch out of the boot of his car last season.

The 25-year-old comes across as an intelligent team player in post-match interviews.

Much like Ginola, Allan Saint-Maximin doesn’t need to be a grafter, he needs to have the freedom to be a magician.

That’s why Manchester United are rumoured to be interested in making a £60m bid for the former Nice man.

Because you can’t coach flair.