Aleksandar Mitrovic admits saying this to Dwight Gayle as summer signing keeps him out of Newcastle side

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The Serbian striker has been kept out of the team by Gayle so far this term.

Newcastle United striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has told NUFCTV, as quoted by the Chronicle, that he has asked top scorer Dwight Gayle to leave him with opportunities to play as he is kept out of the starting XI by the summer signing’s goalscoring form.

Mitrovic was a regular in the Magpies side when fit last season, scoring nine goals in 36 appearances in all competitions following his big-money move from Anderlecht last summer.

However, his playing time this season has been greatly limited by the summer signing of Dwight Gayle, who has hit 11 goals in his first 12 Championship games for the Tyneside club since his arrival from Crystal Palace in the summer.

As a consequence of Gayle’s lethal form, Mitrovic has started just two Champinship games, although he has still managed to net three times in eight games.

Now, speaking to NUFCTV, the 22-year-old has admitted that he has pleaded with Gayle to leave room for himself to play a part at St. James’ Park.

Mitrovic said, as quoted by the Chronicle: “It’s hard to play when (Dwight) Gayle is scoring in every game. I’ve said to Gayle a few times ‘please, leave me to play a little!’ but he keeps scoring goals. It’s good to have a lot of players – Mo (Diame), Ayo (Perez), Dwight, me – who can score goals for the team.

“This is my job – to score goals. I try to do my job the best that I can. Of course, I’m a team player and I will always try to help my team-mates and if I have to choose between scoring or giving assists, I will give assists. We have a lot of players like this and that’s positive because we work very well.

“We should keep going and try to work hard. It doesn’t matter who scores but it matters after that game that we get three points and we go forward.”

Mitrovic is likely to get his chance this weekend as Gayle is doubtful for the rematch with this week’s EFL Cup victims Preston North End.

The striker will be desperate to make the most of it and prove to Rafael Benitez that he should be in contention to start alongside or in place of Gayle.