Here are your Newcastle United evening headlines.
Miguel Almiron set to miss start of pre-season training with Newcastle United
Newcastle United playmaker Miguel Almiron looks set to miss the start of pre-season training after Paraguay progressed to the quarter-finals of the Copa America.
Almiron scored one and made one in Paraguay's 2-0 win over Chile to book a place in the last eight, although there is still one more group game to come against Uruguay.
With the quarter-finals set to take place on July 2/3 and Newcastle due to return on July 5, Almiron will miss the initial testing and fitness process on the schedule at United's Benton base.
The semi-finals are penned in for July 5/6 and the third/fourth place play-off and final takes place on July 9/10 meaning Almiron could also be a doubt for the club's first pre-season friendlies which take place on July 18 against York City and Harrogate as Steve Bruce looks to split the squads up.
Newcastle will have to be wary of burnout for Almiron with the player yet to have a real break since Project Restart began last June.
You can read the full story, here.
Joe Willock's message of intent that Newcastle, Arsenal fans and Joelinton will all respect
Joe Willock has already started preparing for the new campaign and upcoming talks with his father will go a long way to deciding where the Arsenal midfielder will end up following a stunning loan spell with Newcastle United.
The Arsenal midfielder made a remarkable impact during his three-and-a-half month stint on Tyneside and became the first player since Alan Shearer to score in seven consecutive games for the Magpies.
Mikel Arteta expects Willock to return to the Emirates - the Arsenal boss previously confirmed that discussions will take place to 'plan the next years for him' - but Steve Bruce has vowed to at least test the Gunners' resolve.
READ MORE: First-teamers send message before Liverpool player's Newcastle move
It is worth noting that Arteta is keen on bringing in a number of new faces this summer, including Brighton defender Ben White and Anderlecht midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga, and the Spaniard is believed to be open to offers for a number of fringe players to help fund his recruitment drive.
Whether Newcastle can meet Arsenal's asking price for Willock is a different matter entirely given the hit the club's finances have taken during the pandemic.
However, although Mike Ashley has vowed to fight 'tooth and nail' to, somehow, push through the club's takeover, it is worth noting that the billionaire is a big supporter of Bruce and that could yet prove crucial when it comes to potentially sanctioning one or two deals this summer.
Willock is due to sit down with his father, Charles, who is also his representative, when he returns from holiday to decide what will be best for him this season and the 21-year-old will not be content with just a bit-part role if he is to stay at Arsenal.
You can read the full story, here.
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.
You can read the full story, here.
