For years Miguel Almiron's best attributes at Newcastle United were his determination and grit. While goals and assists weren't as frequent as Magpies supporters would have liked, the plucky Paraguayan attempted to make up for it by covering every blade of grass each and every game.
Fast forward to present day and the attacking returns are flowing for Almiron, who still puts a shift in alongside his goalscoring exploits. The wide man is now reaping the rewards of that continued hard work and has even earned himself a spot in the running for Newcastle United Fans’ Footballer of the Year.
Almiron scooped the Premier League Player of the Month award for October after enjoying a goal of the month competition all on his own. Few would have imagined he would in the running for so many plaudits before Eddie Howe worked his magic with the former MLS star.
The Newcastle winger, who is now a firm fan-favourite at St James' Park, was recently sent home early from Paraguay duty after a hectic schedule of late. Almiron is with his co-stars in Saudi at present, as he prepares to continue this run of form after the winter break.
The 28-year-old may come face-to-face with Manchester City star Jack Grealish once Premier League football returns, with the pair clearing the air in the media in recent weeks following the England international's unprovoked attack on Almiron in the summer.
Almiron's performances in a Newcastle shirt have seen Grealish receive a wealth of flack from fans, with the City attacker apologising for his behaviour last week. “I thought: ‘What a guy,’” Grealish told The Guardian.
“If that was me and somebody had said that about me, I’d have probably been the other way and been like: ‘F*** it.’ I didn’t realise it was a video to go out but even in private I shouldn’t have said it because he’s a fellow professional. I’ve had a lot of stick off the Newcastle fans and rightly so.
“I like to enjoy myself and I just go with the flow but I do some stupid stuff sometimes that I do regret. When I next play against him, I’ll show him the most respect because that’s what he’s done in a situation where he probably didn’t have to. I genuinely hope he does keep scoring – as long as those Newcastle fans stop messaging me.”
Almiron is enjoying his best spell of football in a black and white shirt and could easily scoop the Newcastle United Fans' Footballer of the Year Award later this month. You can cast your vote for the Premier League winner and the Newcastle winner in the form above or here.
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