Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez has trusted Mitrovic with just 18 mins of Premier League football this season – but he could be Brighton’s talisman.
Aleksandar Mitrovic looked to have seized a rare chance to impress Rafael Benitez in style. The Serbian striker put the icing on the cake of a 3-0 win against West Ham in style, rounding Joe Hart to slot into an empty net.
If Mitrovic was hoping this would be a turning point in his Newcastle career, however, he was sadly mistaken. Though he only has himself to blame, the firebrand forward copping a three-match ban for a needless yet completely characteristic elbow on Manuel Lanzini.
The 23-year-old has not featured since, being left out of the matchday squad for the recent draw with Liverpool, and has played only 18 minutes of Premier League football this season.
Considering that Mitrovic started just 11 of Newcastle’s 46 Championship games in 2016/17, it’s pretty clear that Benitez does not trust the former Anderlecht youngster to lead the line for his side.
Therefore, with The Mirror reporting that Brighton sent scouts to watch Mitrovic in action during Serbia’s 3-2 World Cup qualifying loss to Austria on Friday night, it would be no surprise if the suspension-collecting striker is on his way out of Tyneside in January.
Though a move to a Premier League rival would give Mitrovic the perfect opportunity to prove a point to Benitez. Brighton have scored just five top flight goals since their promotion with Glenn Murray and Sam Baldock struggling with injuries and Tomer Hemed now suspended.
And Mitrovic looks the perfect candidate to lead the line for a deep-lying and organised side. He would also thrive on the delivery of Pascal Gross, Solly March, Anthony Knockaert and co.
With Newcastle too lacking a reliable goalscorer this season, Mitrovic finding his form again on the South Coast would suggest that Benitez perhaps acted a little hastily in giving him the cold shoulder.
Though it’s fair to say Mitrovic, and his errant elbows, must take plenty of the blame.
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