Newcastle United are back in action this afternoon with a home clash against Premier League champions Manchester City.

The Toon's previous league game saw them draw 0-0 against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, leaving them unbeaten and with no goals conceded.

In terms of what Eddie Howe's starting XI could look like to take on Pep Guardiola's side, one name that we feel should undoubtedly be in it is Miguel Almiron.

With the winger starting both of Newcastle's league games so far this term, his manager clearly values him and sees him as a reliable figure, and the 28-year-old's performance against Brighton showed why he should keep his place in the team this afternoon.

During his 90 minutes on the pitch, Almiron recorded one attempt on goal - something that Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin failed to do - and the Paraguay international also showed how useful he can be in a defensive sense.

Bearing in mind how City scored more goals (99) in the league last season than any other team, it's that defensive ability which could make him a game-changing figure for the champions to handle.

For example, the winger - who is earning just over £42k-per-week - currently has a higher combined total for tackles and interceptions (10) to his name than any of his team-mates.

Guardiola's side have recorded more goal-creating actions (10) than any other team in the division prior to this weekend's round of fixtures, so having a figure like Almiron - who isn't averse to working hard off the ball, which is likely to be the case for Newcastle today - could be invaluable.

That case is further strengthened when you consider that City also racked up the highest average possession (68.2%) in the league last season.

Hailed as an "all-action" player by Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman, Almiron has shown the attributes that what Howe will likely need from all of his players if they are going to get a positive result out of the game.

With all that in mind, it could be a smart move from the manager to give the 28-year-old another start today and see if he can not only frustrate City by stopping them from scoring, but also make a difference in front of goal.