Chief tips Almiron to light up Toon

MIGUEL ALMIRON has been backed to be an instant success at Newcastle.

That’s the verdict of the man who sold him for £20.5m, former Tottenham director of football administration and now Atlanta president Darren Eales.

Almiron, 25 yesterday, became Newcastle’s most expensive signing when manager Rafa Benitez convinced owner Mike Ashley to buy the Paraguayan playmaker.

But Eales reckons Almiron, who helped Atlanta win the MLS Cup two months ago, will be worth every penny, starting tonight when he is set to make his debut at Wolves.

Eales said: “He’s an unbelievable person as a character. He smiles all the time. From that perspective of engaging with the fans he was an instant fan favourite because of his demeanour.

“In terms of his playing on the pitch, he is non-stop, perpetual motion. He is faster with the ball than without it. He reminds me very much of Gareth Bale that way.

Suited

“When Gareth picked the ball up, he always seemed to be quicker when he had the ball and Miggy is like that with his pace.

“But the big thing for him and why I think he is really suited for the Premier League is, yes he is a brilliantly exciting attacking player, particularly in transition but 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.

“So going to Newcastle – and this was the chat we had – 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.

“In Miggy they get the best of both. They get a hard-working guy who’s going to be spending every bit of energy he’s got for the fans but he’s also got that touch of class where he’s going to take your breath away as he carries the ball. I think he’s going to be really successful.”

Benitez is confident pencil-slim Almiron