Almiron has gone missing NEWCASTLE NEED HIS GOALS... NOW
MIGUEL ALMIRON transformed Newcastle’s season when he arrived from Atlanta in the new year.
But the misfiring £ 21million signing could wreck their current campaign unless he finds his shooting boots.
For all his blistering pace, the Paraguayan has yet to create or score a goal.
And against rock-bottom Watford, those sorry stats showed no sign of ending with Almiron missing a hat-trick of chances to leave Toon chief Steve Bruce still waiting for his first home win.
“The kid just needs a break,” he said. “He’s a pleasure to work with and has the appetite and energy but we do need him to score.”
At least the Magpies avoided a third defeat in four, while for Watford the point ended an alarming run of six- straight league losses stretching back to April.
Under- pressure Javi Gracia must have thought his luck was in when Will Hughes fired the Hornets i nto a second-minute lead but Fabian Schar pounced before halftime to level.
“It is a important point for us,” he said. “We did not get the victory we wanted but it was a good performance.” Newcastle, in front of the lowest home league crowd for seven years, would have been booed off at half-time had Schar not struck in the 41st minute.
The Swiss defender swept home after Isaac Hayden challenged Craig Dawson mid-air and the ball broke kindly for him.
Replays suggested Hayden headed the ball onto his own hand though VAR did not intervene, and afterwards Garcia made no issue of it.
Watford’s opener after just 78 seconds carried a huge slice of good fortune. Tom Cleverley was allowed to surge forward and when he let fly, the ball struck Paul Dummett and ricoched off Jamaal Lascelles into the path of Hughes who hit home.
But the visitors were as toothless as their opponents in an opening period, although the game did pick up after the break with both sides having chances.
It was Watford who looked like winning it in the closing stages with Martin Dubravka foiling Isaac Success and Roberto Pereyra and Cleverly seeing a deflected effort roll agonisingly wide.
“Considering we got off to the worst possible start which gave them a lift and left us chasing the game, I’m quite pleased,” Bruce added.