Newcastle: Eddie Howe 'doesn't rate' £20m star

Newcastle United’s new management setup ‘don’t particularly rate’ attacking midfielder Miguel Almiron, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The 28-year-old has fallen out of favour since Eddie Howe replaced former boss Steve Bruce in the St. James Park dugout back in November and has been linked with a move away as a result.

Newcastle splashed out a then club-record £20 million fee to bring Almiron to the club in January 2019, eclipsing the £16m they paid Real Madrid for Ballon d’Or winner Michael Owen.

The Paraguay international had enjoyed two hugely successful seasons with American outfit Atlanta United, featuring in the MLS team of the year on two occasions while claiming the MLS Cup.

However, Almiron struggled to replicate that sort of form after arriving on English shores, registering just 13 goals and five assists in his 91 appearances in his first two-and-a-half years at Newcastle.

Toon Army legend Alan Shearer even criticised the South American star, claiming ‘his lack of movement’ is a major reason behind his struggles.

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And things have gone from bad to worse for Almiron in the current campaign. He’s failed to register a single goal contribution at the time of writing and has slipped down the pecking order under Howe.

The diminutive forward has started just three of Howe’s 14 Premier League games at the helm and hasn’t featured from the off since 19 December, playing only 31 minutes in the top-flight since then.

Despite Almiron being one of Newcastle’s most expensive purchases, the arrival of their new, extremely wealthy owners means there is less pressure to play him.

And Jones has revealed that he ‘doesn’t fit’ with what Howe is