Newcastle lost against Newcastle United on Monday evening, with Aleksandar Mitrovic wayward with his shooting.
Newcastle United have a real dilemma up front, with Aleksandar Mitrovic netting just five goals since his summer move from Anderlecht.
The Serbian has struggled to get into any kind of rhythm at the club, and it seems clear they need a more proven goalscorer in the midst of their relegation battle, but beggars can’t be choosers right now with the transfer window closed.
Loanee Seydou Doumbia is an option, but has barely played since arriving in January. His record suggests that it may be worth giving him a go, if he is fully fit.
The one positive about Mitrovic’s performance against Leicester at the weekend was simply how involved he was.
| Match | Touches | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aleksandar Mitrovic | Newcastle vs West Ham | 79 | 89 |
| Ayoze Pérez | Newcastle vs Stoke | 71 | 90 |
| Aleksandar Mitrovic | Leicester vs Newcastle | 67 | 90 |
| Ayoze Pérez | Newcastle vs West Ham | 59 | 80 |
| Aleksandar Mitrovic | Stoke vs Newcastle | 56 | 84 |
The striker touched the ball 67 times in the 1-0 loss, the third highest number of any striker in a Newcastle shirt in an individual game this season.
This illustrates his work rate, and new boss Rafa Benitez should consider playing Doumbia up alongside him to see if they can play off one another, rather than simply replacing the Serbian with the loanee.
The upcoming match against Sunderland is one they need to win, and it is time for a change in approach. Mitrovic offered a glimmer of hope through his hard work at the King Power Stadium, more involved than Leicester’s Jamie Vardy was, and Benitez needs to put him in a better situation to succeed.
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