BBC pundit makes big Newcastle United prediction as £20m man singled out

Newcastle United are capable of a top six finish in the Premier League this season according to BBC pundit Garth Crooks, who was writing in his Premier League Team of the Week column.

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United striker was full of praise for Eddie Howe’s side following their 4-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Callum Wilson and Sean Longstaff were on the scoresheet while Miguel Almirón netted a double and earned a place in the pundit’s selected XI alongside the likes of Man City trio Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden.

Here is what Crooks wrote about the Paraguayan and his teammates after the weekend’s Premier League action:

“A team full of players desperately wanting to be in the side” - Newcastle capable of top six finish says Crooks

“The travelling Newcastle fans must have loved every minute of this match,” wrote Crooks.

“Goals flying in all over the place and a team full of players desperately wanting to be in the side under Eddie Howe.

“Their win over Fulham was helped by the reckless and needless tackle by Nathaniel Chalobah on Sean Longstaff.

“Why players in the modern era commit themselves to tackles they are not guaranteed to win is really poor decision-making and both Chalobah and Fulham paid the price.

“As for Miguel Almiron and the Newcastle fans, they are having the time of their lives.

“Playing like this Newcastle are capable of a top-six finish.”

Who else made Garth Crooks team of the week?

Almiron was joined in the pundit’s team of the week by three Manchester City players, two players each from Arsenal and Everton and one player each from Liverpool, Chelsea and Brighton.

Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Erling Haaland were selected with the attackers both netting hat-tricks in City’s 6-3 Manchester derby win over United while the Belgian contributed two assists and pulled the strings in midfield.

Jordan Pickford and Conor Coady made it in thanks to their efforts in Everton’s 2-1 win over Southampton while the Gunners were represented by Granit Xhaka and William Saliba.

Leandro Trossard, Robert Firmino and Thiago Silva made up Crooks’ best XI of the week.