Aleksander Mitrovic has struggled to make an impression at Newcastle.
Newcastle United legend Malcolm MacDonald has told the Evening Chronicle that Toon striker Aleksander Mitrovic is simply not good enough for the Premier League.
The 23-year-old striker remains third choice in Rafa Benitez’s pecking order up front, behind summer signing Joselu and last season’s top scorer Dwight Gayle with his future at the club in doubt.
Mitrovic has managed to make just six Premier League appearances this season, all from the substitutes bench, and now the Evening Chronicle claim he has been made available for transfer along with out-of-favour defender Chancel Mbemba.
MacDonald, nicknamed Supermac following his prolific five-year spell with the Toon between 1971 and 1976, claimed Mitrovic is lazy, out of depth and looking for a fight.
“He’s wanting to grapple – he’s looking to have a fight. He’s not looking (A) to win the ball and (B) to score goals – he’s not looking for that. He doesn’t think it,” MacDonald said.
“I don’t think he can cut it in the Premier League. You can’t get a leopard to change its spots and Mitrovic has done it now for too long to change. The crowd are misreading Mitrovic; they think it’s passion, it’s not it’s sheer laziness.”
The 33-time international has struggled on Tyneside since his move from Belgian champions Anderlecht in the summer of 2015, with his best spell coming towards the end of the 2015-16 season.
Since then, Mitrovic managed just four Championship goals in 25 appearances last season and as plummeted down the pecking order as a result. He is expected to watch Newcastle’s clash against West Ham on Saturday from the bench.
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