WE are over a third of the way through 2022/23 and Miguel Almiron has scored the same number of goals as Raheem Sterling, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put together. The odds on this happening at the start of the campaign would have been astronomical.

The generously-eyebrowed Paraguayan and his new-found prolificacy only gets odder the more you dig into it. Of his eight strikes, seven have been converted in his last seven outings, and that’s famine to feast compared to his previous 50 appearances where he found the net just twice.

Then there is the manner of his haul to consider, because these aren’t simply tap-ins. Instead, Almiron is reviving the lost art of curling 20-yard beauties past the despairing dive of goalkeepers. These days, it’s regrettably become the norm to feign a shot before blind-passing to an over-lapping full-back.

The winger’s propensity to score from distance is a big factor in Newcastle scoring the most goals in the top-flight from outside the penalty area (8) but inside the box they’re razor-sharp too. No team has been more clinical than the Magpies this term with a chance conversion ratio of 14.2% a joint-league high. Last weekend, they put four past Southampton from just 18 touches inside the Saints’ box.

These stats take our attention away from the North-East’s unlikeliest goal-machine to the ilk of Callum Wilson and Newcastle’s specialist finishers but perhaps it shouldn’t. Wilson has done well this season, bagging six but has missed a bunch of games to injury, and the same goes for Alexander Isak, bought to be moulded as the club’s next big superstar before succumbing to a protracted lay-off. Instead, Newcastle have scored the third most goals in the Premier League courtesy of more players than anyone else, 12 all told. They are sharing the onus and the glory around.

Two-thirds of Callum Wilson’s goals going back to the start of last season have come at St James’ Park. The 30-year-old is 29/20 to score anytime on Saturday.

This focus on the collective highlights the outstanding work undertaken by Eddie Howe, a coach who would already be a shoo-in for next May’s Manager of the Year award were it not for Mikel Arteta’s revolution at the Emirates. On his appointment a year ago last Tuesday, Howe was considered a pragmatic choice but surely not a long-term solution, due to a widely-held perception that he was incapable of forging solid defensive units. Yet, unknown to all but a handful, Howe spent his post-Bournemouth sabbatical wisely, identifying his weaknesses and seeking counsel from his peers. Subsequently, Newcastle have conceded 0.7 goals-per-game all season.

There is a lot to admire about the Magpies’ back-line but the most pertinent detail is that on the three occasions the forwards have fired blanks, the team haven’t lost, instead eking out goalless stalemates and gaining precious points.

The last six meetings between these sides have produced goals from only one side. No to BTTS offers up a tempting 57/50.

Where Howe has always excelled is in improving players and this is most notable in individuals who were at St James’ Park pre-takeover. Sean Longstaff is quickly cementing a place in the heart of midfield, his rangy stride and endless energy making him a one-man blockade when out of possession and a catalyst in transition. The remarkable transformation of Joelinton meanwhile is old news now but it was Howe responsible for it, dispensing with the terrible idea that the Brazilian is a forward and converting him into one of the best box-to-boxers around. At the back, Fabian Schar has been consistently superb.

Add in the successful blending of the new players – Pope and Botman reliably assured in defence, Bruno Guimaraes brilliant and inspirational all over the pitch – and it’s hardly a surprise that Newcastle are a lofty third right now, having lost only once all season and that to a late, late heartbreaker at Anfield.

A bet builder backing Newcastle to win and to score over 1.5 goals is a decent shout at 19/10.

With a new manager already under pressure and a side that is disjointed and under-performing, Chelsea could really do with some of the feel-good vibes that are abundant at their destination this Saturday. Alas, they head north with the sole intention of correcting recent wrongs and blunting the knives that are out for them.

When Graham Potter took charge at the Bridge his experiments in set-up and personnel was accompanied by decent results but a heavy loss at Brighton and a 90-minute schooling by Arsenal has changed the narrative dramatically. Now a linear approach is needed and fast, and perhaps it’s best if funky trials, such as switching Raheem Sterling to wing-back, are reserved for sunnier days or pre-season. No longer does Potter have the privilege of fine-tuning, not when Chelsea have just posted their worst return from a four-game sequence since February 2020.

‘Resting’ Sterling would be a start, his valuation plummeting in recent weeks though in truth none of the attacking roster can holds their heads up, too often showing flashes of individual excellence but never quite gelling with their nearest team-mate. This season Wolves have had 15 more shots than Chelsea. Wolves.

It should be said that injuries have taken a toll, and the Blues are unfortunate to have Kepa unavailable, with the Spaniard halfway through reviving his reputation. Being deprived of Reece James and Ben Chilwell is also a substantial loss because without flying wing-backs Chelsea can be predictable and ordinary. James and Chilwell are the best they have.

Lastly, any team would be greatly diminished by the absence of N’Golo Kante, especially one that can be out-bossed in the centre-circle when the going gets tough.

Newcastle have been awarded the second most corners this season, averaging 7.2 per game. They are 43/20 to win over 6.5 here.

Yet still, such circumstances only partly excuse what we’re seeing at present, which is a jigsaw puzzle that contains several pieces that don’t fit.

Chelsea at least have history on their side, having lost only two of their last 12 meetings with Newcastle, while Kai Havertz scored and assisted in the corresponding fixtures last term.

The hosts however, could well enjoy a famous win this weekend. Another one. A further milestone reached as their residence in the top four becomes less of a novelty and more a reality.