Newcastle United's record signing Miguel Almiron was sensational on his full debut at St. James' Park for The Magpies in the 2-0 win against Huddersfield on Saturday inspiring a new attacking dimension to Rafa Benitez's hard-to-beat black and white side.
A dream start would have seen Almiron's 12th minute chip, after an electrifying run from the half-way line find the net for his first Newcastle goal instead of a Gallowgate End post after he'd left The Terriers' defence for dead and lobbed goalkeeper Jonas Lossl.
Yet what was perhaps even more remarkable was the fact that just eight minutes later he plucked the modern sword from the stone for Newcastle United when his attacking enterprise, blistering pace and sheer threat invited a wild challenge from Tommy Smith, who became the first Newcastle player sent off in 155 Premier League football matches and gave The Magpies a man advantage for the first time in over 15, 200 minutes of action dating back to Boxing Day, 2013, an advantage they pressed home to victory.
It was as good as a debut as St. James' Park has seen in modern times, right up there with with Martin Dubravka's goalkeeping heroics in the 1-0 win against Man United last season, Moussa Sissoko roasting Ashley Cole and the Chelsea defence when he signed in February, 2013 scoring twice in a 3-2 win against The Blues managed by one Rafa Benitez or Papiss Cisse's spectular arrival and goal against Aston Villa in Jan. 2012.
Yet the debut Almiron's was most reminiscent of was that of Frenchman Hatem Ben Arfa, who ran the show at Goodison Park away to Everton in 2010 scoring this amazing winner:
The electric pace, the dribbling, the positivity and the electrifying influence on those around him as he dances past opponents and effortlessly sets teammates up are hallmarks both Almiron and Ben Arfa share as well as a wand of a left-foot.
Cruelly, Ben Arfa's Newcastle career would be dealt a horrendous blow in the very next game at The Etihad against Man City when he had his leg broken by Nigel De Jong after clearly being identified as the danger man in black and white and referee Martin Atkinson, who didn't even award a free kick, completely lost control of the match.
Next up for Almiron and Newcastle is Burnley tonight at St. James' Park and Geordie fans are praying that the protection their new star man got from Kevin Friend on Saturday against Huddersfield - sending off Smith without hesitation - continues tonight against Sean Dyche's robust team with manager Rafa Benitez expecting a physical game:
World Soccer Magazine's Paul Gardner recently wrote a strongly-worded article in the January issue about Dyche's team's agricultural approach to the modern game of football,
horrified that the overly robust slide tackle that wins ball and man together without thought of endangering the opponent with the ball is actively encouraged as a tactic by the Burnley manager, resulting in a broken leg for England's and Liverpool's Joe Gomez.
Gardner's thoughts are echoed by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who condemned the Burnley slide-tackling because "the injury threat is massive" and saw his first choice right back stretchered out of the stadium at Turf Moor in December after such a challenge by Burnley's Ben Mee and Gomez, after an operation, is still out of action for The Reds.
Craig Pawson takes charge of the match tonight having refereed Newcastle twice this season, once against Cardiff when he sent Isaac Hayden off, failed to send off Bluebird Harry Arter for a wild hack on Josleu yet awarded The Magpies a penalty for handball and also in the 1-0 away to Watford although Newcastle fans will remember his failure to send off Steve Mounie for a high-kick on Chancel Mbemba's head last season at Huddersfield despite leaving his international teammate dripping with blood after opening up a gash.
Newcastle fans, who finally see some light at the end of a dark tunnel with Almiron in a Toon strip, will be loathe to see their new hero injured and go the way of Hatem Ben Arfa who never quite recovered as the same player after his double leg-break so every Premier League referee must follow Kevin Friend's lead and example on Saturday and protect the most skilful proponents of the beautiful game whatever shirt they are wearing.
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