EDDIE HOWE has backed Miguel Almiron to continue his remarkable recent scoring spree – and thinks there is a good chance the Paraguayan could finish the season as Newcastle United’s leading goalscorer.
Almiron heads into Sunday’s home game with Fulham having scored eight goals in the Magpies’ last 11 league matches, a run of form that represents easily his best goalscoring return since he moved to England in January 2019.
His superb scoring sequence began when he found the net twice during a 4-1 away win at Fulham’s Craven Cottage at the start of October, with the first of his two goals on that occasion – a remarkable flicked volley after a through ball from Bruno Guimaraes - likely to be a contender for Goal of the Season come the end of the campaign.
With nine goals in total this term, Almiron is currently three clear of his nearest rival in the race to be Newcastle’s leading scorer, and while Callum Wilson, who is second on six, might have something to say in the remainder of the season, Howe sees no reason why the current rankings should not remain unaltered.
“Miggy wants to carry on scoring goals and wants to be top scorer, as long as that means the team winning,” said Newcastle’s head coach. “That’s what he wants above everything, but he would certainly take finishing as top scorer.
“He is not necessarily driven for himself though. He would want the team to win before the challenge of scoring himself became important. You can see that from his performances and the work he gives the team.
“But I have seen a confidence with him in front of goal now. There is a belief that he is going to score goals, rather than a hope he can score. That is all down to his work on the training pitch.”
Almiron’s goalscoring return has been transformed since he was switched to a wide-attacking role on the right-hand side of Newcastle’s front three.
As a naturally left-footed forward, Almiron’s current position enables him to cut infield in order to threaten on his preferred left foot, but as defenders became increasingly aware of his goalscoring threat, there is every chance they will attempt to force him wide in order to force him onto his weaker right.
That is something Howe and the rest of Newcastle’s coaching staff have been anticipating, and they have been devising some specially-tailored training sessions for Almiron specifically to address the issue.
“It’s something he’s working on in many different ways,” said Howe, “Whether that’s crossing or shooting. His left foot is very, very good, and I always think with left-footed players that their left foot can be so dominant that working on the right foot is a bit of a waste of time.
"But it’s something we’re looking at because he is getting into such good positions on that right side – it is something he is focusing on.”
Sunday’s game sees two members of the current top six going head to head, with Fulham having risen to their highest position of the season so far when they beat London rivals Chelsea last night.
Marco Silva’s side travel to Tyneside having won their last five matches in all competitions, and with former Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic back available after he served a one-match suspension yesterday.
“They’re very much in good form, and I think Marcos has done a very good job with the team,” said Howe. “I’m very impressed with the style of play. They’re not getting results from anything other than a very cohesive team unit, and they’re playing a lot of really good football.
“Tactically, they’re really interesting, and they’ve got players in form, dangerous attacking players from our perspective. I think it will be a good test of our defensive capabilities, with two very good teams, form teams, going at each other.”
As well as pondering whether to start with Joelinton following his drink-driving arrest, Howe will also have to decide whether to keep record signing Alexander Isak on the bench or pair him with fellow forward Wilson.
“Of course, they could be on the pitch together,” said Howe. “ I have to evaluate every game, and every situation we face, and try to balance the fact that you potentially want two attackers on the pitch but that you also don’t want to affect the balance of the team.
“They’re two outstanding players in their own right. Obviously, in the game the other day (against Leicester), I decided to replace one with the other, but I thought they both did well. Both players are looking good.”
Newcastle (probable, 4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Guimaraes, Longstaff, Willock; Almiron, Wilson, Joelinton.
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