Steve Bruce hails 'wonderful' Miguel Almirón after first assist | OneFootball

A whopping 24 games after leaving Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United for Newcastle in a then club-record £21m deal, Miguel Almirón finally recorded his first point in a Magpies shirt.

Almirón assisted Jetro Willems’ 25th-minute equaliser during Newcastle’s 2-2 draw against Manchester City and manager Steve Bruce is confident that the 25-year-old will soon get comfortable and become a star.

“You’ve seen him more than me,” Bruce told reporters. “He’s played his 14th game for me. At a difficult time last year, my mates told me he lit up the place.

“I think the crowd are with him. You can feel the crowd is as anxious as he is when he gets in front of goal.

“I’ve got no problems with him as a player. He’s a wonderful player.”

In 70 games with Atlanta, Almirón banged in 22 goals and added 21 assists and helped lead his side to the 2018 MLS Cup.

The Paraguay international will look to score his first goal on Thursday when Newcastle play away to Sheffield United.