Newcastle United handed fresh injury scare ahead of Brentford — will find out more on Tuesday

Newcastle United are waiting to see if Miguel Almiron is fit to feature for Paraguay in Tuesday night’s World Cup qualifier versus Venezuela (kick-off 11pm).

Almiron pulled up in the closing stages of his country’s 0-0 draw with Peru on Thursday. The 29-year-old appeared to be in some discomfort and as a result limped off with his teammates forced to play out the game with 10 men.

The Paraguayan Football Association issued a statement after the fixture confirming Almiron had “sustained muscular contracture” and is “subjected to further auxiliary studies.”

Shortly after however, Paraguay boss Guillermo Barros Schelotto said Almiron “doesn’t have an injury” and put the issue down to cramp. All eyes are on tomorrow evening to see if Almiron has recovered in time.

“He’s fine, very tired, cramped,” Schelotto told reporters the night before the Paraguay FA’s statement. “It’s his first game, he had a long trip, he didn’t have much recovery time and the commitment they have forces them to give everything.

“He doesn’t have an injury. I hope he can recover and play against Venezuela.”

Almiron isn’t the only Newcastle player to suffer an injury scare during the international break.

Alex Murphy withdrew from the Republic of Ireland under-21s squad, while Elliot Anderson returned to Tyneside for treatment last week after picking up an injury in training with Scotland.

Eddie Howe’s side host Brentford at St James’ Park on Saturday evening (kick-off 5:30pm) looking to end a run of three straight defeats.