Mitrovic wanted to wear the iconic number this season but lost out to new signing Gayle.
Newcastle United striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has told the Chronicle that he let summer signing Dwight Gayle have the number nine shirt ahead of him as he did not want to cause a rift within the squad.
Mitrovic looked set to become the latest incumbent of the iconic shirt this season after a relatively successful debut campaign last term in which he scored nine times in 34 Premier League games for the relegated side.
With Mitrovic serving the role of target man better than Ayoze Perez, and Papiss Cisse leaving for China, it appeared as though the 21-year-old would be the chief frontman for the Tyneside club until Gayle’s arrival.
In the Serbian’s absence – he missed the first four games of the season through suspension – Gayle has scored four goals in as many appearances, and has propelled himself to the front of the queue to lead the line.
Mitrovic, who returns from suspension for the EFL Cup tie with Cheltenham on Tuesday, has now revealed that he allowed Gayle to follow in the footsteps of Alan Shearer et al by wearing the number nine as he did not want to cause a division between any players.
He told the Chronicle: “We were both wanting the number nine shirt. I said to him you can have the shirt as it could have made a problem between the players.
“For me, I like number 45 anyway. It’s my lucky number and I will stay with it. I also like nine, but we made a deal for him to have it. I’m younger so for now I will keep this number.”
Mitrovic may have been generous towards Gayle over that issue, but he is sure to be desperate to take his chances upon his return to eligibility and put the pressure on his new teammate’s place in the starting XI.
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