In their current run of form, it is fair to say that Newcastle United look close to unstoppable.

Having lost just once all season, the Magpies hold company with only Manchester City and Arsenal in this regard and have won five of their last six matches in the Premier League.

What makes this achievement even more impressive is that Eddie Howe has navigated the team through numerous injuries to some key individuals.

Arguably their biggest miss has been Allan Saint-Maximin, who has only managed 16 minutes across their last ten league games.

Having made a four-minute cameo against Aston Villa, and with a lengthy break imminent with the World Cup just around the corner, perhaps the former Bournemouth boss might risk the maverick winger today and pair him with the red-hot Miguel Almiron.

Southampton would surely struggle to deal with both the Paraguayan, who has six goals in his last six games, and the Frenchman, who has terrorised them before.

Of his 12 Premier League goals, Saint-Maximin has twice scored against the Saints, including a stoppage time equaliser at St James' Park last season.

Any viewer of the English top flight is aware of the talents that he possesses, but when he is in form there is little that can be done to stop him.

Now that Newcastle have built a team with top performers all across the pitch, it alleviates his creative burden and will likely offer him even more space to do damage.

He ranks among the top 1% for dribbles completed when compared with wingers across Europe, boasting “magical” properties, as Howe gushed in February. The 44-year-old also claimed: “He’s such a difficult player to play against when he’s in that mood.”

There will be hope amongst the Toon Army that they will get to witness Saint-Maximin's genius once more before that aforementioned six-week World Cup break, which will give him time to return to his brilliant best.

For now, even if they can only squeeze 60 minutes out of him today, it would be a welcome return for a player who has a history of causing trouble for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side.