£20m Almiron is ready to go, says Benitez

RAFA BENITEZ says there is no pressure on him after spending a club record £20.5million on Miguel Almiron because he was owed the funds from previous transfer windows.

The January outlay on the Paraguay playmaker cancels out the £20m profit the Magpies made in the summer. ‘After five windows when we are in profit, I do not have any pressure,’ Benitez said. Almiron is likely to be on the subs bench at Wolves tonight, but his manager believes it would not be a gamble were the 25-year-old to start.

‘When you talk with him, he is ready,’ said Benitez, whose side are only out of the bottom three on goal difference. Benitez has seen a five-point cushion from danger evaporate since their shock win over Manchester City, and he fears Newcastle’s survival effort could go down to the final day of the season.

‘It is very tight. I think it will go until the end. Maybe Fulham, the last game, will be the most important. For me, 36 to 38 points should be enough.’

Seventh-placed Wolves, promoted last season, will be seeking a fourth straight Premier League win tonight, something never achieved before by the club.

Not that this is a consideration for Nuno Espirito Santo. ‘We’re not here for the records. What we are here for is to improve, to work as a team, stay humble and work hard, trying to achieve the best performance we can in every game.’

Wolves beat Newcastle 2-1 at St James’ Park two months ago thanks to Matt Doherty’s injury-time winner. ‘That game was a huge boost away from home at Newcastle because it was a tough game for us,’ Doherty said. ‘Obviously we have really kicked on since then.’