Newcastle boss Steve Bruce hailed Allan Saint-Maximin's performance after their 1-0 win at Southampton.

Saint-Maximin scored the only goal of the game in the closing stages, pressuring Yan Valery into a mistake before tucking home beyond Alex McCarthy.

Southampton had been reduced to 10 men midway through the first half when Moussa Djnepro's yellow card was upgraded to a red following a VAR review of his foul on Isaac Hayden.

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

"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."

He added: "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."