Former Liverpool and England midfielder Jamie Redknapp believes Miguel Almiron must step up if Newcastle are to be successful this season.
Almiron is preparing for his first full season at Newcastle after joining from Atlanta United in January.
The 25-year-old heads into the season full of confidence after an impressive Copa America campaign with Paraguay that saw him linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Although he is yet to score for Newcastle, he carried the momentum from a positive start to life on Tyneside into the tournament in Brazil and he will hope to build on that again this term.
But he will have to do so without Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez - both of whom have moved on this summer.
They were affectionately dubbed the 'three Amigos' because of their understanding and the Magpies will hope he can replicate that sort of chemistry with new signings Joelinton and Allan Saint-Maximin.
The departure of Rafa Benitez means he will also be working under a manager who cannot speak Spanish for the first time during his career and he will look to improve his English while working under Steve Bruce.
Nonetheless, Redknapp, who now spends his days working as a pundit for Sky Sports, saw enough in Almiron to suggest that he will be Newcastle's key man this season.
“Michael Owen’s club record £16.8million move to Newcastle in 2005 was finally broken when Rafa Benitez brought in Almiron for £20m from Atlanta in January," Redknapp told the Mail Online.
“You could see why Benitez fancied him. Almiron showed glimpses of what he can do in the second half of last season.
“Now Newcastle have lost attacker Ayoze Perez to Leicester, not got striker Salomon Rondon back and Benitez is in China. The club feels in turmoil.
“Almiron will be one of those who needs to stand up and I’m looking forward to seeing what he’s got.”
