Newcastle United had just moved within three points of third place. However, the 3,000 Geordies in the away end were not singing about potential European adventures or even serenading goalscorers Alexander Isak and Sandro Tonali following this 3-1 win at Southampton. They were paying tribute to a substitute who had only been on the field a matter of minutes: Miguel Almiron.

It has been more than a year since Almiron scored for Newcastle. The Paraguay international has made just a single league start this season. However, Newcastle fans have not forgotten what Almiron did for the club as the forward edges closer to a return to Atlanta United.

There was the purple patch that had supporters dreaming of the Champions League. There was the memorable opener against PSG when the Magpies got there. More than anything, though, Almiron gave his all, whether Newcastle were in the depths of a relegation battle or in the hunt for the top four.

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That counts for a lot in these parts and if this proves a farewell, well, it was a rather fitting one. As supporters sang his name, to the tune of 'Give It Up' by KC and the Sunshine Band, Eddie Howe threw an arm around Almiron before pushing the Paraguay international forward to take the acclaim of the crowd to loud cheers at full-time.

Almiron waved before applauding the fans as they started up again. "Na na na na na na na na na na! Miggy Almiron! Almiron! Miggy Almiron!" the away end boomed.

Almiron could have milked it, but the humble 30-year-old was soon on the move and making his way to the back of the huddle. You can see why Sandro Tonali said 'we love him' following Saturday's win. If Almiron is to leave, as expected, Howe felt this was a 'memory for him to take forward for the rest of his life'.

"It was just something instinctively done with supporters singing his name," the Newcastle boss said. "For everything he's given me and the football club, I thought it was only right that he shared that moment with the supporters."

Those supporters were still singing Almiron's name as they made their way out of St Mary's following a return to winning ways for Newcastle. Yet they did not have it all their own way. It was bottom of the table Southampton who stunned the visitors by taking the lead in the 10th minute.

It certainly did not feel like a goal was coming when James Bree played the ball down the line to Kyle Walker-Peters. but the Southampton defender held off Dan Burn's challenge despite the huge difference in size. As Burn fell to the floor, Walker-Peters passed it back to Bree, who had all the time he needed to look up and swing the ball into the box to the unmarked Jan Bednarek, who headed Southampton in front.

It was Southampton's first league goal at St Mary's in seven-and-a-half weeks, but Newcastle did not panic. Newcastle have claimed more points from losing positions (15) than any other side in the top-flight for a reason and the Magpies drew level midway through the first half.

Bruno Guimaraes picked up the ball outside the box and threaded it through to Isak. Just as Isak was about to pull the trigger, Joel Aribo stuck a leg out to take him down. Samuel Barrott initially gave a corner, but the referee reversed his decision and pointed to the spot after consulting his pitchside monitor. Up stepped Isak, who coolly sent McCarthy the wrong way, to level it up.

It was rather telling that Isak did not celebrate. The Sweden star immediately grabbed the ball and led his team-mates back into their own half so that the game could get back under way quickly. They were soon celebrating for real just a few minutes later.

There was half-an-hour on the clock when Jacob Murphy skipped away from Aribo in the middle of the park and fizzed the ball through to Isak. If Isak's first touch with his left foot was majestic, well, the striker's finish with his right was not bad, either, as he slotted the ball past McCarthy. To think Isak had not felt 100% going into the game. You would not have known it.

It looked like it was a long way back for Southampton - McCarthy had to get down to deny Isak a hat-trick before half-time - but the Saints offered a timely reminder that this game was far from over after the break. The second half had just kicked off when Martin Dubravka rushed off his line to punch a corner and the ball fell to Taylor Harwood-Bellis, whose overhead kick was pushed over the bar by the alert Newcastle goalkeeper.

It proved an important save. In a blink of an eye, Newcastle would go up the field and double their advantage. Sandro Tonali was first to a second ball ahead of Mateus Fernandes and the midfielder headed it to Isak and kept on running beyond his team-mate. Isak shouldered the ball to Gordon, who cleverly hooked it on to send Tonali racing through on goal. Tonali had only previously scored one league goal for Newcastle, but the midfielder gave McCarthy the eyes and finished superbly to make it 3-1.

Newcastle's tails were up - Murphy saw a shot cannon off the post while Joelinton had a goalbound effort cleared off the line - but it was Fernandes who had the ball in the back of the net late on. Only Southampton's hopes of a grandstand finish were dashed after VAR intervened and the goal was ruled out for offside. By that stage, Almiron had been introduced to a rapturous reception from the away end. Time will tell if this was the evening the substitute bid farewell.