A £21 million star has now disproved the opposition at St. James’ Park

Under Eddie Howe’s leadership, Newcastle United’s £21 million star has had a standout year at St. James’ Park. NEWS SOURCES netsport.uk

Head coach Eddie Howe has got the best out of the Magpies star during his tenure on Tyneside.

Newcastle news – Miguel Almiron

Howe’s commitment to seeing Almiron flourish in the Premier League is demonstrated by the winger’s turnaround at Newcastle. In January 2019, Atlanta United paid St. James’ Park a then-club record sum of £21 million for the 29-year-old.

Before moving to Newcastle, Almiron was tearing up Major League Soccer defenses, and he believed it was time to establish himself in Europe and the Premier League. The South American, however, first struggled to adjust to the demands of English football.

Rafa Benitez nor Steve Bruce could get the best out of Almiron, who seemed destined for an exit. His future became more uncertain when the Saudi Public Investment Fund acquired the ownership of Newcastle in October 2021.

Prior to the 2022–23 campaign, Almiron had scored nine goals in 110 Premier League games for the Magpies. However, a remarkable improvement in form allowed him to score 11 goals in 34 top-flight games last season, solidifying himself as an important player for Howe’s team.

The 51-cap Paraguayan’s participation was crucial in helping Newcastle finish fourth in the Premier League and earn a spot in the Champions League this season. The winger has adapted to Europe’s top club competition like a duck to water, displaying incredible poise to give Newcastle an early lead over French champions Paris Saint-Germain in a game the Tyneside club ultimately won 4-1.

It improved upon a valiant effort in their group stage opening, a 0-0 draw against AC Milan. It has given the Magpies a genuine chance to advance from a difficult group that also includes Borussia Dortmund. Almiron’s goal gave him three goals in recent Premier League matches for Newcastle against Burnley and Sheffield United.

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie recently told NETSPORT that the attacker is “one of the fittest players in the team”, proving his worth to Howe ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.

Almiron, who was criticized by some of the Magpies supporters following their 1-0 loss at Manchester City in August, is said to love having a point to prove, according to Dean Jones Jones. But he has questioned whether he still figures into Newcastle’s future plans. The journalist thinks the Paraguayan star “proves his worth” as a starter for Howe’s club, though. Jones disclosed to NETSPORT:

“I think he’s the kind of guy that likes to prove people wrong. It’s like he thrives on those moments. I don’t think there’s any doubt that if you were to look at how Newcastle are building a vision for the future, you would question whether Almiron can remain part of the team because they’ve got such high expectations.

“They’re in the Champions League now. They want to challenge to win the Premier League title within the next few years. Can Almiron remain part of that? I can see why some people might have wanted him replaced because you wanted an upgrade. But he does perform sometimes when you need him to, and I think as a squad player and even as a first-team player, he proves his worth. So, a lot of credit has to go to him for that.”

What is the future of Almiron?

Almiron’s new three-and-a-half-year deal at St. James’ Park, which keeps him with the team through the summer of 2026, was revealed by Newcastle in February. By the time his contract expires, the South American would be 32 years old, entering the latter stages of his Tyneside career.

However, The Telegraph hinted that the winger would be traded as Howe looks to a second rebuild of the team just weeks after Almiron extended his contract at Newcastle. The summer transfer window saw no sales, and the winter market makes a sale seem unlikely. However, the rumor would suggest that Almiron’s contract extension was only an attempt to preserve his value before going on to recruit new players later on.

What next for Newcastle and Almiron?

Newcastle will have time to rest and recover during the international break following their match on Sunday at West Ham United before a crucial stretch of the season. The Magpies and Almiron return to action on October 21 when they host Crystal Palace at St. James’ Park in an effort to get a win before their Champions League matchup with Borussia Dortmund on October 25.

On October 28, Newcastle will play Gary O’Neil’s Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux to close out the month.