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Sean McCormick

Miguel Almiron shows different dimension for Paraguay that could benefit Newcastle next season

Newcastle United midfielder Miguel Almiron was in inspired form for Paraguay on Thursday evening as they beat Chile 2-0 in the Copa America.

The 27-year-old bagged a goal and an assist as La Albirroja booked their place in the quarter-finals of the competition as he revelled at his creative best for his country.

Newcastle fans have grown used to Almiron's pace being a threat in transition, while his running stats were hailed as 'ridiculous' by team-mate Jonjo Shelvey last season.

READ MORE: Miguel Almiron set to miss start of pre-season training with Newcastle United

What needs to improve, though, is his goals and assists return (13 goals and five assists in 91 appearances for Newcastle), although that did seem to improve when the former Lanus midfielder was utilised in his favoured number 10 role at the beginning of the year.

Indeed, that's where he played for Atlanta United when he boasted an impressive record of 22 goals and 21 assists in 70 appearance for the MLS outfit.

But it was his threat from set-pieces that particularly stood out in Paraguay's win over Chile at the Mané Garrincha Stadium in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia.

Newcastle largely relied on Jonjo Shelvey, Matt Ritchie and Ryan Fraser as their corner takers last year but perhaps on the evidence of last night, Almiron needs to be pushed up the pecking order.

Almiron took just five corners for Newcastle last term but on three occasions in the first half, his deliveries caused mayhem for the Chilean defenders.

An in-swinging corner from the right-hand side found Gustavo Gomez who flashed a header wide. However, Chile weren't so lucky the second time around when a similar Almiron delivery was headed home by Braian Samudio.

A third corner from the right-hand side then outfoxed Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo only for Cesar Pinares to head wide of the post.

In the second half, Almiron doubled Paraguay's lead from the penalty spot, coolly sending Bravo the wrong way.

Paraguay finish their group campaign against Uruguay on Monday evening before next weekend's quarter-finals.

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