Hot-shot Martinez on Toon radar as ace hunts record
UNITED EYE ALMIRON’S FORMER ATLANTA TEAM-MATE
NEWCASTLE United are keeping tabs on another MLS hotshot in Josef Martinez – the man who is aiming for a world record goalscoring streak this season.
The 26-year-old former strike partner of Miguel Almiron has now netted in 15 consecutive matches, an MLS record, and is hoping to go level with Lionel Messi’s world record-breaking sequence of netting for 21 successive games.
United’s scouting network in the US is now well established, head of recruitment Steve Nickson forging excellent links in MLS during his transfer mission to land Almiron last year.
Since then Newcastle’s scouting team has remained focused on Atlanta United’s matches and checked out the Venezuela international.
They are well aware of Martinez’s progress but he is on a substantial list of possible targets ahead of the January window.
It could even be argued Almiron is missing his old strike partner as he struggles to find his first topflight goal in English football.
The duo helped fire Atlanta United to the MLS title last term, Almiron’s form winning him the move to St James’ Park after long, drawn-out transfer talks.
The joy of Almiron’s move to Newcastle has fizzled away since then but it could reignited with his first Premier League strike.
Across the Atlantic, though, Martinez cannot miss at the moment.
Just before the window shut in Europe there was talk the South American was attracting interest from France and the Premier League, Everton taking a good, hard look at the goal-getter.
However, the speculation has hardly turned his head with a fresh glut of goals since last month.
Martinez said recently: “I don’t pay attention to those rumours or anything.
“I live in the present. I don’t think about the future.
“Right now I am happy in Atlanta and happy with my teammates.” Newcastle could well be cautious about another MLS acquisition so soon after Almiron, especially with questions being asked about the standards between MLS and the Premier League given the Paraguay international’s current barren run on English soil. Almiron’s goal drought has been a talking point on Tyneside but he has the full backing of head coach Steve Bruce.
Bruce has pointed to Almiron’s goalscoring feats in MLS on more than one occasion, stating: “Once a scorer, always a scorer.”
Bruce also added: “He has done very well here but he has not been able to score a goal.
“Miguel and Yoshinori Muto have only been around the Premier League for between six to 12 months.
“The longer they have been here the better that experience will help.
“I have already said Miguel needs to score a goal and he will calm down again.”
Martinez has played in Europe before with BSC Young Boys, FC Thun and on the bigger stage of Serie A with Torino, where he netted 11 goals in 72 appearances - which contributes to the argument of differing standards again.
He netted twice this week against FC Cincinnati and, with Atlanta aiming to win the MLS Cup again like last year, things could not be going better for Almiron’s old side so far this season.
As clubs start preparing their shortlists for the winter window, Martinez’s progress is certainly worth keeping an eye on
– especially as he goes into his next batch of games bidding for a world record.
I live in the present. I don’t think about the future. Right now I am happy at Atlanta and with my team-mates Josef Martinez