Chris Waugh has revealed Kieran Trippier has picked out Miguel Almiron as his ideal winger to play behind at Newcastle United.
It has been a revelation of a season thus far for Almiron, who looks like a totally different player under Eddie Howe. He leads the team in successful pressures while also being the club’s top scorer with four strikes – more than both Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak.
Almiron has seemingly become a favourite under the Magpies boss having started every game this season in the Premier League, and even with Allan Saint-Maximin back and Isak said to be nearing a return, he appears to have the backing of teammate Trippier when it comes to keeping his place.
Waugh revealed on Pod on the Tyne that Trippier has told people at the club that if he could play with anyone in front of him, it would be Almiron.
He said: “He [Almiron] does inspire his teammates by the way that he wins the ball and when they do things like that [pressing opponents], and I think that he benefits so much from having Bruno Guimaraes behind him because of the way that he can spread play and the decisions that he makes.
Have you been impressed with Almiron?
Yes!
No!
“Also, Kieran Trippier really likes playing with Miguel Almiron. I was speaking to people inside the club and they were saying if he could pick anyone to play on the right-hand side in front of him, it’s Almiron because of what he does off the ball. And those three between them, the way that they link up, I just think is so key to the way Newcastle are playing at the minute.”
TIF Thoughts on Almiron…
There had been talk over the summer about Almiron’s future at the club given his disappointing attacking output over the last few campaigns, but he appears to have taken that personally and addressed those issues with four goals already in the league, which is the most he’s ever managed since joining the club.
Something else that may well have motivated him to do better was an unnecessary dig from Jack Grealish at the end of last season, but it looks as if the Paraguayan is having the last laugh with him having more goals than the Manchester City man this season.
It’s obvious that Almiron’s pressing off the ball is a huge reason he keeps playing under Howe – he did it very successfully for his recent goal against Brentford – and if he can keep scoring, there’s no reason why he can’t become a top-level winger in the Premier League.