Miguel Almiron outclassed Lionel Messi with a man of the match display against Paraguay in Buenos Aires.
The good news for United is that Almiron's late yellow card means he is now suspended for Tuesday night's game against Bolivia meaning he can link up with Newcastle earlier and get sufficient rest to prepare for Chelsea next weekend.
Had Almiron played in the game with Bolivia he was facing a Tyneside return on Thursday - just 48 hours before the Blues come to St James' Park.
The Newcastle United playmaker was fielded on the left-hand side of midfield and showed he can deal with the defensive work to help snuff out the threat of the Barcelona man.
Almiron was named man of the match and won a penalty in the World Cup qualifier to allow Ángel Romero to fire his side 1-0 up in the World Cup qualifier.
Almiron had Paraguayan commentators excited as he danced down the left-hand side to beat four defenders and then win a foul in the box in the 18th minute.
Argentina equalised Nicolás Iván González to secure a point in the qualifier but Messi stayed off the scoresheet and while Almiron was booked for dissent late on he didn't commit a single foul.
Almiron shook off his mistake in the 2-0 defeat against Southampton in the Premier League to put in a display that left South American journalists delighted.
