Miguel Almiron brilliantly shows his commitment to relegation-threatened Newcastle United
Miguel Almiron was “desperate” to play before the international break – despite not being fully fit.
Almiron made his comeback from a knee injury in the relegation-threatened club’s shocking 3-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion last month.
Despite his lack of fitness, Almiron – who came to the fore at the club following coach Graeme Jones’s arrival in January – was one of the club’s better performers at the Amex Stadium.
“Typical Miggy, he wanted to play, but I didn't think looking at him that he was 100%, but desperate to play, so that couple of weeks has given everybody a little bit of time,” said Bruce, who could welcome Allan Saint-Maximin back from injury against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Almiron, Saint-Maximin and Wilson have worked on their fitness during the international break.
"Well, it's been very difficult because we've had six or seven away,” said Bruce. “What it has been able to do is get two or three closer to match fitness, Callum and Allan. It's fair to say that Allan’s a bit more advanced than what Callum is, and that's been the good news.
"It's been another two weeks for Almiron, who, for me, probably, wasn't 100% fit against Brighton. So, in that respect, it's been decent because it's given us a little bit of time to get our big players back.”
Bruce lost Isaac Hayden to a season-ending knee injury against Brighton.
"Obviously, we've lost Isaac, and, for me, that's been the cruel side,” said Bruce. "Thankfully for him, he didn't need an operation, but I don't think he'll play the rest of the season."