West Ham United and Newcastle United will face off in the Premier League this weekend.
Newcastle United midfielder Miguel Almiron “would do even better” if Steve Bruce utilised him as a number 10 in the centre, according to West Ham United defender and Paraguay teammate Fabian Balbuena (official Hammers website).
Almiron arrived on Tyneside to much fanfare in January as the Magpies spent around £20million to land the 25-year-old from Atlanta United (BBC Sport), with Rafael Benitez finally landing him on a £42,000-a-week deal after a lengthy chase (Spotrac).
The Paraguayan’s 2018-19 season sadly ended early due to a hamstring injury, but during the 10 games he featured for Newcastle he made a big impact as the club won five games and drew two.
This season, Almiron has not been quite at the same level, and has found himself criticised by sections of the St James’ Park fanbase, but Balbuena believes that, rather than playing him on the wing, he “would be able to show more” were he deployed centrally.
“Now, he is playing in a different position and the Premier League is a big difference from the MLS, but he is a very good player, a very technical player and a very quick player, so hopefully he will do well,” said Balbuena. “I think his manager wants him to play on the wing but for me I think he would be able to show more if he is playing in the centre, in the No10 position.
“I sometimes speak with him and we speak in the national team. He is happy to be playing in the Premier League, which is the best league in the world, and he is trying to do his best for Newcastle. He is doing well but, for me, he would do even better in his position.”
The Hammers and the Magpies lock horns at the London Stadium this Saturday.
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