Newcastle's Almiron to miss rest of season

Playmaker signed from Major League Soccer champions Atlanta United in January

LONDON: Newcastle United playmaker Miguel Almiron will miss the last three games of the season due to a hamstring injury, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.

Almiron signed from Major League Soccer champions Atlanta United in January, with British media reporting that Newcastle had paid a club record 21 million pounds ($27.16 million) to secure his services.

The Paraguay international has made 10 league appearances for Newcastle so far and sustained the injury in the second half of their victory over Southampton on Saturday.

"Miguel Almiron will miss the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring injury in Saturday's 3-1 win over Southampton," Newcastle said in a statement

"The 25-year-old was withdrawn in the 64th minute against the Saints and having been assessed by the club's medical staff, it has been confirmed that he will not be fit for the Magpies' final three matches of the campaign."

Newcastle said they were in touch with the Paraguayan Football Association's medical staff and that Almiron might still be able to represent his country at Copa America, which starts on June 14.