Eddie Howe expects Miguel Almiron to be back to face Aston Villa amid transfer rumours

Tongues were wagging furiously on Saturday when Miguel Almiron's name was not in the Newcastle United squad to take on Fulham.

The Paraguayan winger has been hotly tipped to leave Newcastle this winter and when his name was absent from the teamsheet, football mathematicians were putting two and two together up and down the country.

Eddie Howe insisted that Miggy was ill and video of him arriving at the RVI on Thursday evening did back that up, but in this game you never know who is telling the truth.

Eddie Howe expects to have Almiron back tomorrow

Fast forward to Monday morning and Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media ahead of tomorrow's trip to Aston Villa where he was asked about returning players, namely Miguel Almiron and Jamaal Lascelles (via The Chronicle).

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Both players are being linked with moves away and for them both to be missing at the weekend just got suspicions rising, but now Eddie Howe is expecting Miguel Almiron back for tomorrow night, while Lascelles is likely to still be missing.

"We hope Miggy will be with us. Jamaal I'm not sure about.

"It's not a serious injury but it might be enough to keep him out of this game. It will be close."

Does Miggy go straight back into the starting XI?

Having Almiron back gives Eddie Howe something to think about, whether he sticks with Jacob Murphy to get his match sharpness up, or puts Miggy back in.

Murphy didn't exactly set the world alight against Fulham, but it was his first game back after a long lay off. Meanwhile, Miggy has been inconsistent all season. It's a tough call.

It's a call that Howe needs to get right as Aston Villa will pose a much bigger threat than Fulham that's for sure.