Miguel has heart to be a Toon star
MIGUEL ALMIRON will be an instant hit with Newcastle fans because he “wears his heart on his sleeve”.
Newcastle’s record signing is set to make his debut at Molineux tonight, most likely off the bench, after his £20million move from Atlanta United.
And Atlanta president Darren Eales, the former Tottenham director of football, feels the Paraguayan is worth every penny.
“He’s an unbelievable person. He smiles all the time,” said Eales. “From that perspective of engaging with the fans, he was an instant fan favourite because of his demeanour.
“In terms of his playing he is non-stop, perpetual motion. He is faster with the ball than without it. He reminds me very much of Gareth Bale.
“But the big thing for him and why I think he is really suited for the Premier League is, while he is a brilliantly exciting attacking player particularly in transition, he works really hard in defending.
“For us as a club, to have our star player be the first person tackling back, and run 60 yards back to nick it out of touch, was great.
“He is going to fit in straight away because Newcastle fans want a player who is going to wear his heart on his sleeve and who is there doing the dirty stuff just as much as the attacking stuff.”
Having persuaded the board to splash out on Almiron, Rafa Benitez wants them to ditch their controversial “no over-thirties” transfer policy and sign Salomon Rondon on a permanent basis. Newcastle will have to pay West Brom £16m to land the Venezuelan, who is 30 in September. But with six league goals, he is firing the Toon towards survival.
“Everyone can see he is doing well,” said Benitez, who has midfielders Ki and Mo Diame available again.
“He could score more goals but he is giving others the opportunity to go forward and is doing a lot of good things.”
Wolves, who returned yesterday from a warm-weather training camp in Marbella, are chasing a record fourth straight league win this evening.
Raul Jimenez has been critical to their success, with nine top-flight goals to help his side up to seventh, as well as five assists. “Different strikers are happy when they score but you have to think about the team – the assist and movements that can give space for your team-mates,” he said. “You never quit. It’s teamwork.”
Jimenez joined Wolves while away with Mexico at the World Cup last summer after three years with Benfica and 12 months previously with Atletico Madrid, time he feels helped him right from the start in England.
Jimenez, a debut scorer against Everton on the opening day, added: “It’s easier to make the jump from Spain and Portugal to here but since the first match I’ve done good things with the team.
“I’ve shown some good skills and want to keep going and improving.”