Yesterday, Newcastle United star Miguel Almiron told NUFC TV of his delight in being in the North East. This season, the Paraguayan has come under a lot of scrutiny due to his lack of end product – on Saturday, he registered his first goal involvement for the club in the ten months he has been on Tyneside.
Linking up with breakout star of the season Jetro Willems, he played his part in a one-two with the left-back before watching on as the he hammered home a driven effort into the bottom corner.
Ahead of the game at high-flying Sheffield United on Thursday, Almiron spoke to NUFC TV about his woes in front of goal.
“I just need to get that first goal but you know what’s important – is that the team are playing well. Of course I’d love to get on the scoresheet and I’m really itching to score but I’m not beating myself up over it either,” said Almiron.
“The goals will come along whenever they do and it will be at the right moment. I just try to give the best version of myself for the team and I think that is more important. I scored one or two goals for my previous clubs and for Paraguay, I’m getting forward and scoring. So I think when it comes, it will be a very happy day for Newcastle United supporters.”
The man who the fans have affectionately dubbed ‘Miggy’, also spoke on his relationship with the fans as well as how he is settling in on Tyneside.
“I’m settled in very well. The whole settling in process has gone very well and that’s down to the help from my team-mates. I feel very much at ease at the club and in the city itself. I’m very happy here – I’ve always said that.
“I also have to be grateful to the fans who have always been right behind me which is always a good thing for us players. I’m happy and content here at Newcastle and I hope to carry on here for a long time to come.”
All-in-all that’s very good news for Newcastle fans. I know a lot of the Geordie nation aren’t exactly sold on Almiron as a player – but the side is truly a much better team when he is in it. His energy and defensive work rate alone make him a vital part of the team. In terms of his attacking output, it’s obvious he isn’t being played in his natural position, therefore is struggling.
It seems as though Steve Bruce and his coaching staff have prioritised his defensive covering over his attacking skills – hence why he is being played on the right wing. The right side of the defence is definitely the weakest, with one of either Deandre Yedlin or Javier Manquillo playing at right wing-back. Bruce clearly feels they need Almiron’s help defensively more than the team need his help in an attacking sense – otherwise he’d be playing on the left or through the middle.
The one moment in the game where Almiron got himself into a central position at the weekend, he drifted out to the left and created a goal – proving his effectiveness in those areas. If NUFC want to get the most out of him in attack, they’re going to have to seriously consider swapping him to the left wing and putting Allan Saint-Maximin on the right. It just depends whether or not they can afford to trust Yedlin or Manquillo with less defensive support…
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