The Newcastle United trio of Miguel Almiron, Salomon Rondon and Sean Longstaff can cause problems for West Ham this weekend.
Newcastle United are enjoying a good run of form at the moment as they have managed to win four of their last six games to earn 31 points before March. The Magpies need a few more wins to maintain their Premier League status and Saturday’s match against West Ham in London could see them pull closer to both survival and the top ten.
West Ham have been inconsistent over the last two months, so it is difficult to determine how close this match will be. Something that is predictable, though, is the fact that West Ham will have difficulty containing Miguel Almiron, Salomon Rondon and Sean Longstaff.
Miguel Almiron
Making the transition from playing in the United States to playing in England is difficult, but Almiron is making it look easy. In his two starts for Newcastle against Huddersfield Town and Burnley, Almiron looked solid. He constantly looked to set up teammates, nearly scored in both matches and his pace enabled him to maneuver around defenders.
West Ham need to be cautious of the former MLS star. Burnley made the mistake of undermining his talent and he shredded their back-line on multiple occasions. If the Hammers are not compact in the back, Almiron could have a big day and even score his first goal for Newcastle.
Salomon Rondon
Rondon leads the team in scoring with seven goals this season and he has found the back of the net with both feet and multiple headers. The dynamic striker did not have a good game against West Ham in December, but his form has significantly improved since then. Rondon was heavily dependent on receiving crosses to score for most of the season, but over the last two weeks he is getting better looks at goal with through balls from Almiron and Ayoze Perez.
This improved chemistry up top should raise flags for West Ham, especially seeing that the Magpies have taken 42 shots over the last two games with the aforementioned trio in the lineup. Rondon could be the difference-maker in the game on Saturday.
Sean Longstaff
Longstaff continues to exceed expectations every time he takes the field. The 21-year-old midfielder is not a flashy player by any means, but he is a smart player who plays aggressive football and has great vision. Longstaff scored his first Premier League goal against Burnley this week and that memorable moment surely lifted the youngsters confidence even more.
Longstaff has been consistent since taking over the starting role in midfield. It will be interesting to see Longstaff’s mentality on Saturday as pundits have sparked a debate about Longstaff and West Ham’s Declan Rice. Gareth Southgate would be wise to sit down and watch this matchup from the stands.