Aleksandar Mitrovic’s tenure with Newcastle United never reached its full potential, but it was not because he wasn’t skilled.
When Newcastle United host Fulham tomorrow, it will mark the return of Aleksandar Mitrovic to St. James’ Park. The passionate, Serbian striker was a fan favorite of the Toon Army before joining Fulham last year on loan, then permanently this past summer. Why did Newcastle United sell a beloved player at a position of need? It was a matter of his fit with Rafa Benitez’s system, not due to a lack of ability.
Mitrovic arrived at Tyneside ahead of the relegation-doomed 2015/16 Premier League year. He would appear in 34 matches that season and score nine goals. As you’ll recall, Rafa did not enter that equation until late in the campaign. Still, it was a decent season for the powerful, young target man.
Fast forward to the next year, Newcastle United are playing in the Championship. Dwight Gayle and Daryl Murphy have arrived to boost the attacking corps. for the Toon. Gayle brings a new dimension of pace and the ability to get behind and Murphy is a crafty veteran that knows the league and how to capitalize on limited opportunities. Mitrovic would get the same amount of starts as Murphy and 15 less than Gayle. He wasn’t the least talented of the three. Gayle and Murphy simply were in more established roles. Mitro scored four goals, the least of the three strikers, despite playing in ten more matches than Murphy.
Then, the final chapter in Mitrovic’s complicated time with the Toon. Joselu signed over the summer and he and Gayle carried the lion-share of minutes up top. After scoring a big goal against West Ham and a suspension following that, Mitrovic would be limited to five more Premier League appearances. As supporters, our writers included, clamored for more Mitro, Rafa eluded to the fact that Joselu and Gayle were more willing to follow his instructions and in essence, play a more well-rounded game than Mitrovic.
After languishing on the bench with a back injury and without playing time. Newcastle United loaned him out to Fulham. Back in the Championship, this time the first-choice striker, Mitro scored 12 goals in 17 appearances and helped the Cottagers earn promotion. He signed with them permanently over the summer. This season, he has seven goals and two assists, starting all 11 matches so far. That simply confirms the fact that it was never a lack of talent at Newcastle United for Mitro, it was a matter of fitting into Rafa’s system.