EDDIE HOWE admits next season will be a “massive one” for Allan Saint-Maximin – and is hoping the Frenchman uses his performance from the final day of the current campaign as something to build from.

Saint-Maximin was the Magpies’ best player as they drew 1-1 with Chelsea in their final fixture, with his pace and dribbling ability causing a succession of problems on the counter-attack.

The forward has had a mixed campaign, with an impressive run of form in the spring being bookended by a couple of lengthy injury absences.

There has been speculation about Saint-Maximin’s future, with AC Milan being linked with a possible move for his services for the second transfer window in a row, but Howe is adamant he does not want to lose the 26-year-old.

Instead, he sees Saint-Maximin as an integral part of his plans for next season, although he admits the former Nice and Monaco forward has to grasp his opportunity with both hands.

Howe said: “That (his career trajectory) will be dictated by Maxi himself. He has so much ability and he’s such an important player for us when he’s at his very best fitness-wise. He’s unique, there’s no one like him in the Premier League.

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“You saw (against Chelsea), he’s a huge transitional threat, his end product was there so we were really pleased. We just hope he comes back really fit and ready to do well in what is a massive season for him personally.”

Martin Dubravka was another player to catch the eye against Chelsea after what has proved to be a difficult campaign.

The Slovakian goalkeeper was making his first league start of the season at Stamford Bridge, but while he opted to join Manchester United on loan in the first half of the campaign because of a lack of opportunities on Tyneside, Howe is hoping he will opt to remain with the Magpies this summer.

He said: “Martin was very good. We were very pleased with Martin.

“He’s shown again he's a very capable goalkeeper, and he's been very unfortunate to be behind Nick this year.”