NEWCASTLE: Eddie Howe has called for Newcastle United to face Manchester City with “cool heads” after refusing to be drawn into the debate about Jack Grealish’s derogatory Miguel Almiron comment.
During City’s Premier League title-winning celebrations, Grealish joked that the secret to his side’s 3-2 comeback win over Aston Villa on the final day of the campaign was the substitution of Riyad Mahrez, who he described as having “played like Almiron.”
It was a derogatory comment not received well on Tyneside, and by many others in the footballing community, particularly after Grealish, the most expensive ever Englishman at $118 million, only outscored Paraguayan international Almiron, who cost $19 million, by one Premier League goal last season.
And while the comments are not something Howe is keen to dwell on, he hopes Almiron and the rest of the players buy into the same matchday mantra this afternoon.
“I’ve certainly spoken to Miggy, I speak to my players on a regular basis. I haven’t broached that subject, I don’t think it’s something we really need to discuss,” said Howe.
“I see with Miggy a very happy person who is very content with his football. He’s in a really good place, very positive, and I don’t see someone who needs extra motivation. He’s an incredible person, has a real passion and desire to play football for Newcastle.
“I’ll speak to him about his game and make sure he is prepared in his normal way to deliver a performance,” he said.
“We need to play the game with cool heads. We need to have fire in our hearts but we need to play with discipline. We can’t lose that. I’ll back our players, they’re very good professionals. We need to keep all players on the pitch in every game.
“I’m not going to get drawn into those comments, I don’t think it’s wise for me to do that. We’ve just got to make sure we turn up and perform to our best levels.”
When pressed to comment further, Howe said that he has used many tactics to motivate his players before a game, but Grealish’s unprovoked and ill-advised outburst was unlikely to be one.
He said: “I’ve used all sorts of ways to try and motivate my players over the years, I’d never rule anything out if I felt it was appropriate to use any method that I feel would get extra.
“My players are motivated to play well for Newcastle and for themselves and their families but if there was a way of doing that then, yeah, I’d use it. I’m not going to comment on the situation you mentioned but certainly we’re highly motivated for the game.”
Almiron has been one of Newcastle’s most improved players under Howe, a transformation which seemed to really take shape on the pitches of Austria and Portugal in pre-season.
The former Atlanta United forward netted twice at Estadio da Luz, adding to another handful of goal contributions against the likes of Gateshead and Burnley.
Howe says that he has been impressed by the 28-year-old’s attitude and application, as well as his recent increased final third output.
“If you actually looked at his performances toward the end of last season, he was excellent,” said Howe.
“He may not have got the goals that maybe highlighted those performances but certainly in pre-season he did.
“I was really pleased with pre-season he delivered. The first two games, he had very good games. Again, he hasn’t quite got the goals to elevate his performances to another level but I thought he was probably our standout performer against Brighton.
“There’s so much more to come from Miggy. Everyone knows how good he is off the ball, he’s got an incredible attitude off the ball and he really epitomises the way we want to play out of possession. But on the ball, he’s done some very good things. He’s continuing to improve.”
Ahead of the visit of Pep Guardiola’s side, Howe has revealed that he will make a late call on the availability of left-back Matt Targett, while Ryan Fraser is expected to be again named on the bench.
“Ryan, we hope, will be fit and available,” said Howe.
“He had back spasms late last week, so was a late withdrawal from the game. He’s trained this week.
“Matt, we’ll make a very late decision.”
