Allan Saint-Maximin jetted in to Corsica in the summer - and the skillful winger has quickly settled in to his new surroundings, this brilliant goal in his second appearance capping a perfect start for the teenager on loan from Monaco.

"It's a reward for all the hard work I've put in during training, and all the support Bastia have given me- my teammates, the coach," Saint-Maximin told The Ligue 1 Show on beIN SPORTS. "I needed to feel some love and they're giving that to me. I'm very happy here."

Fast track, wrong turn

A graduate of France's prestigious Clairefontaine academy, Saint-Maximin started his professional career at Saint-Etienne, making his debut aged 16. Monaco then swooped, signing him for 5 million euros before sending him out on loan to Hannover. But the precocious attacker started just one game in the Bundesliga last term, and was deemed surplus to requirements after his involvement in a car accident. 

"I think Allan lost his way a bit," explained Bastia coach François Ciccolini. "We had been following his progress for a while, but we hesitated because we had received mixed reports on him. But he'll show everybody out on that pitch that he's a real man and that he's not going to do silly things anymore."

Part of the plan

Now 19, Saint-Maximin is back in form at Bastia, and his coach is counting on him, determined to polish a diamond that's still slightly rough.

"Sometimes he keeps the ball when he should really pass it," admitted Ciccolini. "That's why he gets kicked a lot. There are times he really needs to release the ball quicker.”

And the young man in question knows that there are many areas in which improvement is still possible: "The coach wants me to defend a bit better too. I think I'm slowly getting there thanks to him, and I'm grateful."

Saint-Maximin hopes to emulate his close friend Ousmane Dembele - France's young player of the year last season - and at Bastia he looks to be back on track.