Even before tonight’s game between Leicester and Notts Forest, BBC’s Garth Crooks has named his Team Of The Week which includes a Newcastle player.
Paraguayan winger, Miguel Almiron has found himself in the BBC’s team of the week after bagging a brace against Fulham. Miggy could have had a hattrick after his sublime finish was chalked off for offside. Despite the flag denying him his hattrick, the South American still wore his trademark smile.
Signed for £21m from Atlanta United in January 2019, a lot was expected of Miggy and he came to Newcastle with a stellar reputation from across the pond. However, it took him a while before he bagged his first goal for the Toon on 21st December 2019, almost a year after signing – that goal coming against Crystal Palace against whom he scored a worldie last season.
There was a lot of speculation over the summer as to whether Miggy would still be around for the start of the 22/23 season with some fans suggesting it may be time to cut our losses, but Miggy had other ideas. Scoring for fun in pre-season, Almiron staked his claim on his starting eleven place and has been given plenty of game time this season.
As it stands now, Almiron and Wilson are tied as the club’s top scorers this season with three goals each, and despite his faults – the main one being his complete inability to use his right leg for anything other than support – Almiron is proving to be a valuable member of the team once again.
Almiron’s workrate is something that can never be questioned. He covers every blade of grass in every game, but has often been guilty of making the wrong call at key moments. However, if there was ever a player who thrived on confidence it’s Miggy, and a brace on Saturday will definitely spur him on. If he can stick a run of form together, all our doubts will melt away – and for his smile alone, I hope that happens.
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