Here are your latest Newcastle United headlines for November 11.
Almiron exclusive
With a smile as wide as the Tyne Bridge his happiness and belief is there for all to see and if you could bottle it up, market it and sell it, you'd be a millionaire. And Almiron, a pre-takeover signing, really is big business at the minute.
Before becoming a marquee £21million signing for Newcastle, Almiron once bit his MLS winners medal at Atlanta United as if he was testing if it was real gold. But what's very real at the moment is the stardust he is sprinkling across Premier League pitches and catching everybody's eye.
The 28-year-old has landed the Premier League player of the month, Match of the Day goal of the month and PFA player of the month. And the frightening thing is, Miggy admits he still has two or three gears to crank up.
It's already eight goals for Almiron this season and I know as we live and breathe during the interview, I'm talking to the best player in the country right now. The positivity is crackling off Almiron like static electricity at the moment.
You can read the full story here.
Magpies sweep awards
Miguel Almiron has made it clean sweep in October by adding the Budweiser goal of the month to his collection.
Having won the Premier League's EA Sports player of the month and the PFA award for best player, his goal against Fulham for his cracker in the 4-1 win wins the Premier League prize to go with Match of the Day's award - also for his strike against the Cottagers.
Almiron had won the player of the month gong after beating Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga, Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland, Granit Xhaka of Arsenal and Leandro Trossard of Brighton in a public vote.
Eddie Howe had earlier won manager of the month for the month of October.
You can read the full story here.
Howe's 'briefing' quip
Eddie Howe hopes his England contingent will tell their international team-mates 'good things' about Newcastle United at the World Cup - but the Magpies boss quipped he won't be briefing them.
Newcastle will have three English players at a World Cup for the first time since 1998 after Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson were all called up by Gareth Southgate. To put that number into perspective, no other club will have more players on the plane when the Three Lions jet out to Qatar next week.
That will give Newcastle a real presence in the group just months after Pope asked Trippier questions about the club, the city, the dressing room and Howe before joining the Magpies from Burnley last summer. Although Pope was already keen, the goalkeeper admitted Trippier's answers 'really sold' the move to him.
Players naturally talk to each other about life at their respective clubs when they are away on international duty so does Howe believe that Pope, Trippier and Wilson can help attract others to St James' Park?
You can read the full story here.
Wilson injury update
Eddie Howe says that Callum Wilson is facing a late fitness test ahead of the teatime clash with Chelsea at St James’ Park. The striker was taken off At Southampton for the 4-1 win on the South Cost last weekend due to an illness.
Since then he has trained in isolation but Howe will make a late call on the World Cup bound No 9. Howe, speaking at his Press conference, said: “We will wait and see and he’s been training separately from the group.
“He had the illness and he’s been away from the group. He’s trained well but we will make a decision ahead of tomorrow.”
You can read the full story here.
Potter's view
Chelsea boss Graham Potter is expecting Newcastle United to be 'pumped and ready' at the weekend as the Magpies look to claim another scalp before the World Cup break.
Newcastle welcome Chelsea to a sold-out St James' Park on Saturday evening for the teams' final game before the tournament starts in Qatar. Whatever happens, Newcastle will be in the top four at Christmas, but this match offers Eddie Howe's side the chance to stay third and move a whopping nine points clear of Chelsea with a victory.
Newcastle certainly go into the game in a 'really good frame of mind' as Howe said following his side's penalty shootout win against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night. The black-and-whites have won seven of their last eight games in all competitions; Chelsea, in contrast, have triumphed in just three matches in the same period.
Potter was in charge of Brighton when the Seagulls were frustrated by Newcastle in a goalless draw at the Amex back in August and the Chelsea manager knows the Magpies have come a long way even since then.
You can read the full story here.
Title talk verdict
Callum Wilson has refused to be drawn on talk Newcastle United could mount an unlikely challenge for the Premier League title. The Magpies currently sit third in the table following an impressive start to the season.
Eddie Howe's side have lost just once so far, and have climbed into the Champions League spots on the back of a run of six wins in their last seven matches. The Magpies could extend the gap over top-four rivals Chelsea to nine points with victory in their final fixture before the World Cup break.
League leaders Arsenal and champions Manchester City are seven and five points clear of Newcastle respectively, and both teams hold games in hand. However, United's momentum coupled with their capacity to invest further in the January transfer market has led some pundits to question whether they could battle for top spot.
Wilson stressed there is a long way to go in the season, although he feels Newcastle's performances this term justify their current lofty status. The number nine believes the 'ruthless' display at Southampton despite potentially their 'worst performance' of the campaign is a sign of the team's ongoing development.
You can read the full story here.
READ NEXT
- Joey Barton questions Callum Wilson's World Cup selection with Ivan Toney penalty claim
- Peter Schmeichel claims Newcastle are a team to 'avoid' in the Carabao Cup
- Dion Dublin explains why Callum Wilson's World Cup call-up is the right decision
- The important fresh message from Eddie Howe after week of highs for Newcastle United
- Pick your Newcastle United starting XI for the Magpies' home clash against Chelsea
