Former Chelsea player Jason Cundy has claimed that Newcastle United’s big money January signing Miguel Almiron has flattered to deceive thus far.
The Paraguay international was signed to much fanfare during the winter transfer window, but still has not opened his account for the Magpies.
Cundy believes he must improve: “He gets bums off seats, he’s that type of player,” he told talkSPORT [20/09; 17:45]. “But when he gets in the final third: make the right call, make the right decision.
“Those sorts of things, the penny can drop eventually. But, right now, he flatters to deceive.”
OPINION
This seems to be the general mood surrounding Almiron at the moment. It’s very much been a slow start to the season for the mercurial South American. Newcastle aren’t the most creative of teams, and so a lot of the responsibility for providing a spark falls on his shoulders. That’s not necessarily fair to someone who is still acclimatising to English football, but there’s no getting around the fact that he is leaned upon as the side’s creative hub. But, as Cundy says, the penny can drop. His overall play hasn’t been horrible, and he certainly works hard, so it is about being more clinical in the final third. He hasn’t been getting close enough to Joelinton up front and that’s where the Magpies have suffered. The Brazilian has looked incredibly isolated at times this campaign, and it’s Almiron’s job to help him out a bit more. If he does that then he should profit as well. Having said all that, it’s not unfair of Cundy to say that the 25-year-old has flattered to deceive so far.
