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Allan Saint-Maximin took to social media after scoring the winner against Southampton.

The winger posted a picture of himself hugging Steve Bruce at St Mary's Stadium as the pair look to distance themselves from talk that there was a training ground fallout last week.

Saint-Maximin poked home with just 11 minutes remaining of a fraught contest on the South Coast.

In his Press conference, Bruce spoke about what a "good decision" it was to rest Saint-Maximin after he did not start the 0-0 draw with Burnley, which sparked stories that there had been a disagreement.

Bruce said: "I said when Saint-Maximin walked in he will excite people.

"His natural ability is scary.

"He has a bit to learn too, and if he does, if he sorts the other bits out, we have a hell of a player on our hands.

"He is always a threat, wants to get past you and that is a dying art.

"He has that natural ability in abundance."

With four points banked in the last eight days and a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals secured, it has been a positive period of the season for Newcastle.

Bruce said: "We have a had a tough time, but it's been a good week.

"There is a marked improvement.

"The three players brought in in January have helped us. It has been difficult, but 35 points with eight to go is good.

"It's another one off, we are back running and again and it's decent."