Many suspected the World Cup break had come at the wrong time for Newcastle United and Miguel Almiron. Before the month-long hiatus, both entities were enjoying their finest purple patch in years.
The Magpies had astonishingly risen up to third in the Premier League while Almiron - instrumental in reaching those lofty heights - scooped the Player of the Month award. An easy narrative could be made to suggest Newcastle could lose their momentum after the winter tournament.
Just five Toon players jetted off to Qatar, with the rest given an extended break before returning for the mid-season Saudi Arabian camp on December 4. By contrast, European rivals Manchester United (14), Manchester City (16), Chelsea (13), Tottenham Hotspur (11), Arsenal (10) and Liverpool (7) released more to their national sides.
