‘Bossed the midfield’, ‘constant threat’: Alan Shearer blown away by Newcastle duo

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Alan Shearer has raved about Newcastle United duo Isaac Hayden and Allan Saint-Maximin, naming both players in his Premier League Team of the Week.

On Sunday, Steve Bruce’s charges took on Sheffield United at St James’ Park, the hosts playing their first competitive game in three months.

It proved a perfect day at the office for Newcastle as they ran out 3-0 winners over Chris Wilder’s high-flyers, who had John Egan sent off five minutes into the second half.

Saint-Maximin opened the scoring for the Tyneside outfit on 55 minutes by firing home from Matt Ritchie’s low ball, with the help of a calamitous error by Enda Stevens.

Ritchie then got himself on the scoresheet in the 69th minute with a thunderous effort from the edge of the area after Hayden had laid the ball on for him.

Joelinton wrapped up the scoring 12 minutes from time as he netted from close range from Miguel Almiron’s pinpoint ball.

While several Newcastle players were big shouts for Shearer’s Team of the Week, two made the cut.

Of Hayden, Shearer wrote: “Few players have found Sheffield United easy to play against this season but Hayden bossed the midfield, providing the platform for his side’s impressive victory.”

The Newcastle legend then wrote of Saint-Maximin: “He was the difference between the sides, offering a constant threat as he ran at the heart of the Blades’ defence time and again. He deserved his goal.”

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Hayden is a seriously underrated, high-calibre player who has been thoroughly impressive for Newcastle, and on Sunday he was once again superb, cleaning everything up in front of the back line.

Saint-Maximin has also been delivering for the Magpies since his £16million move from Nice, becoming a firm Toon Army fan favourite, and his performance against the Blades was top class, working hard and setting his side on their way with a well-taken finish.