Newcastle United loanee Aleksandar Mitrovic is better equipped to succeed in the Premier League this time around, after winning the play-offs with Fulham.
Newcastle United loanee Aleksandar Mitrovic will return to playing Premier League football next term after an underwhelming two top-flight seasons with the Magpies and he will have a point to prove to his parent club, but is he any better equipped for the step up now?
Mitrovic featured for current club Fulham in their 1-0 play-off final triumph over Aston Villa at Wembley in this season’s final Championship clash.
The Serbian international joined Slavisa Jokanovic’s side on January’s transfer deadline day, after Newcastle deemed the striker surplus to requirements at St James’ Park for the season, with him making six appearances and scoring just a single goal on Tyneside.
The 23-year-old quickly found his feet again though, reminding football fans what the previous fuss was all about, and he proved to be pivotal in the Cottagers’ push for promotion, netting an impressive 12 goals in 20 games, in a season he called “the best four months of my career” (Sky Sports), and Fulham are now allegedly keen to retain his services for next term.
The former Anderlecht man seems as though he is far better equipped to have a successful stint in England’s top flight after regaining his confidence and eye for goal in the Championship, while also curbing his disciplinary issues, having been straight red-carded twice in 34 appearances in 2015/16.
Mitrovic has simplified his game and gone back to doing what he was best at at Craven Cottage, acting as a physical linchpin to connect attacks in the final third while causing problems for defenders with his movement and physical prowess, minus the previous discrepancies.
He seems to be thriving off being the main man in the attacking third and his confidence is sky-high once again.
Whether or not the striker will be plying his trade at Newcastle or Fulham is uncertain come kick-off next season, but one thing is for sure: the striker returning to the Premier League is a seriously improved player from the one that left four months ago.
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