Journalist Craig Hope was left raving over Miguel Almiron’s performance for Newcastle United in their mid-season friendly.
Speaking on Adam Pearson’s YouTube channel, the Daily Mail reporter would also go on to describe him as being on a ‘different level’ and ‘tremendous’.
The Magpies won 5-0 in a friendly against Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal. Almiron got himself a brace after coming off the bench in the second half.
And Hope believes that Newcastle will not be looking for another winger in the January transfer window due to the Paraguayan’s form this season, which has continued during the World Cup break.
He stated: “Wow, even the friendly last night. I thought a lot of the players looked stodgy – Miguel Almiron didn’t.
“When he came on in that second half, he was a different level; he was tremendous. So right-wing is no longer a priority.”
TIF Thoughts on Craig Hope’s Almiron comments…
We believe that Almiron has been on fire for Newcastle this season, as he’s looked like a totally new player.
The Magpies signed him back in January 2019 for a fee of £21m from Atlanta United.
Before the 2022/23 campaign, the 28-year-old only had nine Premier League goals to his name. This season alone, he’s already one goal off equalling his tally from the last four league campaigns combined.
Almiron is also Newcastle’s top goalscorer so far in the Premier League, with Callum Wilson two goals behind him on six.
Furthermore, as per Sofascore’s average match ratings, Almiron ranks fourth in the Magpies’ top players in the Premier League so far.
It’s not just the Paraguayan who has been flying this season, as Newcastle have had an outstanding overall campaign so far. They sit third in the league and boast the joint-best defensive record alongside league leaders Arsenal, conceding 11 goals.
When the second half of the Premier League season gets underway, the Toon faithful will be hoping they can end the season in a Champions League spot. Should that happen, it will be the first time Newcastle have played in the competition since the 2002/03 season, and it looks as though Almiron will be central to it.