Newcastle’s top scorer Miguel Almiron set to be out for ‘three weeks’

Miguel Almiron is set for three weeks on the sidelines after picking up an injury during Newcastle training,  Paraguay manager Guillermo Barros Schelotto has revealed.

The midfielder has been a key player for the Magpies this season and is their top scorer this season with 11 goals, after bagging just nine in his previous four seasons combined.

 He has not made the squad for Paraguay’s friendly against Chile later this month, where he could have picked up his 50th international cap, after picking up an injury on Thursday. 

In quotes carried by the Athletic, Schelotto said: ‘Miguel Almiron was injured yesterday [Thursday] and will be out for 3 weeks and it is not necessary for him to come.

‘We received the report from his club and we saw the video of the injury.’

Miguel Almiron will now be out for ‘three weeks’ after picking up an injury during training

He has been Newcastle’s top scorer this season, with goals in the Premier League

Paraguay boss Guillermo Barros Schelotto revealed the injury when announcing Paraguay’s squad to face Chile later this month

It means the midfielder is set to miss a crucial game on Friday as Eddie Howe’s side take on Nottingham Forest.

A win for Newcastle will move them within a point of fourth place Tottenham with a game in hand,  while a loss would leave them just two points ahead of Liverpool after the same number of games.

His absence may not be felt as keenly as it might have been at a different point in the season, as the international break means they will not play again until a huge game against Manchester United on April 2.

In a team that has already struggled for goals, losing their most effective goal scorer could be a huge blow.