Miguel Almiron leaves Newcastle United agonisingly short of the five appearances that would have propelled him into the club's top 10 all-time appearance chart in the Premier League.

Rarely injured and always giving 110%, Almiron's finally tally of appearances is up there with the likes of long-serving stars like Kieron Dyer, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini and Aaron Hughes, only the likes of Gary Speed, Nobby Solano, Rob Lee, Shola Ameobi, Alan Shearer and top of the pile Shay Given sit ahead of him.

The truth is, something I have been told for a long time, that Almiron never really wanted to leave Newcastle and would have loved to have cemented himself further in that list. He would have happily spent the remainder of his contract at St James' Park before eventually heading back to the States or South America, that's why there were tears from him, his team-mates and club staff when his transfer to Atlanta United was finally confirmed.

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One insider told Chronicle Live: "It was sad, Miggy and his family have made Newcastle a home. There wasn't a dry eye in the house."

When Almiron's move from MLS side Atlanta had been confirmed, with the red lights on the transatlantic flight from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport indicating the doors were secure, there was an immediate buzz around St James' Park - one that helped fuel a win over Man City no less. As journalists unpacked their laptops exactly six years ago, a club official offered guidance that it was indeed a done deal and that Almiron was on his way to Newcastle.

At that stage he was regarded as a record signing at £21million and he would play is part in Newcastle staving off relegation under Rafa Benitez that year as a very different version of Newcastle United finished 13th with just 45 points. The Magpies finished that season with just 12 wins on the board in the top-flight.

Almiron leaves a Newcastle side that have 12 wins already in the Premier League with 23 games gone. He has witnessed the rebirth of a club in the last half a decade or so.

And he's been a major part of it. It took Almiron a while to get his first Newcastle goal with his maiden strike coming almost a year into his tenure with Steve Bruce by then in charge.

In a bid to get Almiron's confidence up and running in front of goal, Bruce told Almiron to take a penalty in a pre-season friendly at Preston North End. But Almiron's spot-kick, in front of 1,359 travelling fans, was saved by Declan Rudd and the wait went on.

That December, Almiron finally found the net for Newcastle after 2190 minutes and 46 shots. Bruce said afterwards: "I've never heard a roar like it from the Gallowgate."

The goal with seven minutes left would the first of 30 for Miggy. He was never one for many words or courting the attention of journalists in mixed zones but after that day he told me the goal was an early "present" for Christmas before wishing supporters all the best for the festive period.

I'd say he wore his heart on his sleeve and carried an infectious smile with him pretty much everywhere he went during his time at St James' Park. Eddie Howe still can't help but break into a beaming smile at the mere mention of Almiron at a Press conference.

Almiron's other highlights include a brace in a 3-2 win at West Brom before lockdown that had many Newcastle fans believing that 2020 could have been the year in the FA Cup as he guided the Magpies to the last eight. A pandemic, then Man City put an end to that particular dream.

And Newcastle fans would have to wait two years to actually be in the stadium to see Almiron score after the Covid lockout. By then, Howe was in charge of Newcastle but again he raised the roof in a midweek game against Palace.

Bruno Guimaraes' hooked path down the right located Almiron who headed it forward into his path and let fly with his left foot in a 1-0 win. Later that year, with Newcastle on their way to the Champions League, everything Almiron hit turned to gold.

Just before the World Cup break of 2022, Almiron would win pretty much every award available to him. The Premier League player of the month, Match of the Day goal of the month, Budweiser Goal of the month and PFA player of the month.

But he turned around and said that day: "Without even a thought I'd trade all of these awards around me now to deliver a major trophy for Newcastle United."

Known here as the "purple patch", Almiron's run of seven goals in seven goals in seven games earned him the respect his ability deserved. One of his most treasured goals will arguably be the opener in the 4-1 win over Paris St-Germain in the Champions League. When Howe talks about the standards and the level he wants his team to reach, it's almost certainly a benchmark, and Almiron was a big part of that.

Almiron loved life in the city but was never a party goer and steered clear of the bright lights, or what has been referred to as the city's "goldfish bowl" in the past.

He told me in an interview with Chronicle Live he said in 2022: "Spending time with your loved ones is always important. To be honest, I'm pretty quiet and reserved as a bloke, really. I am not one for having big nights out or parties. I just enjoy spending time with my family. On a normal day after training we might take my son to play at the park or for a walk, we might go for a coffee. To me those moments are the really special ones in life and what I live for."

What will also be very special to the Almiron family, especially wife Alexia and for his son Francesco (especially in years to come), will be the reception they enjoyed at games. From the moment a huge Almiron banner was draped at the Gallowgate End for his debut against Huddersfield in 2019, they felt the love and passion from the fans.

The Almiron family treated the Toon Army like family and made Newcastle their home. It's something that they will take back with them as he returns to Atlanta. Farewell, "Wor Miggy", the gates to St James' will always be open to you.