Eddie Howe resisted temptation to recall Miguel Almiron to the Newcastle starting XI on Sunday, and his decision was justified.
Almiron has recently returned from injury and was pushing for a start after the Aston Villa debacle. There was a report suggesting he could be recalled to the lineup, while we included him in our predicted starting XI.
However, Howe largely stuck with the team that was humiliated at Villa Park. The only change he made against Tottenham was reinstating Sean Longstaff, who was not fit enough to start the previous game due to illness.
With Longstaff coming in for Anthony Gordon being the only change, it meant Almiron had to watch on from the sidelines once again. He did come on in the second half, and played a key role in setting up Callum Wilson for Newcastle’s sixth.
Now the Toon boss has explained exactly why he did not start the Paraguayan speedster.
Eddie Howe wanted to give Jacob Murphy another chance
Howe has spoke to the Chronicle after the game, and explained why he opted to start Jacob Murphy on the right of attack instead of Almiron.
“I don’t think Jacob’s done a lot wrong since he’s come into the team – I think he’s done a lot right,” he said.
“It’s then very difficult to justify leaving him out, as well as Miggy has done this season for us. It’s a tough call, but they’re the decisions I want.
“I certainly considered bringing Miggy back into the team, but I wanted to give the team a chance to respond from what happened at Aston Villa. I wanted to give them an opportunity to go and put it right because we did fall below our standards in that game, for the first time in my opinion this season. The response was emphatic.”
Miguel Almiron decision justified
It was a bold call from Howe not to bring in Almiron, but the decision to stick with Murphy paid off. He showed brilliant reactions to score the first, then was full of confidence when he rifled home his second and Newcastle’s third.
The 28-year-old also played a role in the fifth, playing Sean Longstaff in behind before the local lad picked up Alexander Isak. That goal was ‘beautiful’ in the eyes of our record signing.
Almiron has gone from narrowly missing out to it now looking like he has no way back in the side. With the way Newcastle played against Spurs, it is incredibly unlikely that Howe will make any changes for the midweek trip to Everton.
He certainly won’t be dropping Murphy, who was exceptional on Sunday. What a season he is now having – he is very much the unsung hero on Tyneside right now, but he is finally starting to get the recognition that he deserves.
It is great news for Newcastle, but bad news for Almiron and his hopes of starting any time soon.
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