Get the latest NUFC transfer and takeover news straight to your inbox for FREE by signing up to our newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Former Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel admits there was relief in the United States once Miguel Almiron started scoring for Newcastle United.

Almiron went almost year without scoring his first goal for the Magpies following his move from Atlanta United in what was an MLS record fee.

The Paraguay international scored 22 goals and registered 21 assists in his two years in Georgia, as he helped Atlanta win the MLS Cup in 2018.

His move to the Premier League was seen as a trailblazing moment for the league and there were high hopes for him across the atlantic.

And even though Almiron impressed both Rafa Benitez and Steve Bruce he couldn't translate his goalscoring exploits in MLS to the Premier League.

He eventually found the net in December's win over Crystal Palace - 11 months after joining the club - and he has since scored on three further occasions.

And former USA international goalkeeper, Friedel, who recently managed MLS side New England Revolution, admitted it was a relief to everyone associated with the league to see Almiron's upturn in goalscoring form for the Magpies.

(Image: 2019 Getty Images)

“It was more of a relief over here to see him scoring goals in the Premier League, because he killed the MLS for two straight years and was head and shoulders above everybody in the league," Friedel told Chronicle Live on behalf of Bonus Code Bets.

"Most people know that the MLS tend to pay money for teams in the attacking sense and the defence aren’t focused on as much and Almiron was terrorising defenders in every single game that he played.

“Going over to the Premier League it’s a little bit different where there are big budgets in every position and you get a lot of the best of the best all over the field, it’s really good to see that he’s starting to get some goal and assists on the board."

And the former Aston Villa, Blackburn and Tottenham goalkeeper hopes there will be more MLS stars who make the move to the Premier League.

"We do have some very talented players over in MLS, there should be more that make their way over to Europe.

"When they do get sold, especially some of the more high-profile ones, it’s important that they produce.

"Almiron is good enough to produce, that’s not the issue. Technically he’s good enough, physically he’s good enough and hopefully now confidence will be flowing right through him."