It's fair to say the last week or so has been one of the most interesting periods of Miguel Almiron's Newcastle career so far.

The Paraguay international's agent came out and revealed that his client could have left the club in the summer, and that European giants like Inter and Atletico Madrid were interested in his services.

Then, Magpies boss Steve Bruce hit back with some explosive comments of his own, branding it as "outrageous" and slamming the agent as being "so amateurish".

Almiron of course didn't start last time out against Chelsea in the Premier League, although that was perhaps more to do with his late return from international duty with Paraguay.

But with reports since claiming that he could potentially leave St James' Park in the near future, it really does feel like the 26-year-old is almost entering a really significant moment in his Newcastle career already.

His start to the new campaign has been pretty much a follow-on from the rest of his time on Tyneside, with just one measly goal to show in 11 games.

On form, Almiron perhaps doesn't warrant getting a start in Newcastle's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace tonight, but you just wonder whether the whole spat between his manager and agent could have just lit a fire under him.

The Paraguayan has a point to prove and can really do his side of the talking on the pitch, and Bruce must surely consider giving him the opportunity to do so.

It was just this summer that the Magpies boss waxed lyrical about the dynamo, saying: "Almiron is a manager’s dream. He’s bright, he’s tough, he trains every day and he’s been carrying a thigh injury but doesn’t want to tell anybody.

"The last 20 minutes on Sunday (against West Ham United) he was limping about the pitch. In 18 months he’s proved to be a really top, top player."

Friday night could well be the making of Almiron at Newcastle if he's given his chance.