It’s been an almost perfect run of results for The Magpies, but one of their former stars beleives they can still improve.
Former Newcastle United striker Micky Quinn has told The Chronicle that The Magpies still have room for improvement despite storming to the top of the Championship.
Rafael Benitez’s side, blessed by one of the most talented squads ever assembled in the second tier, are currently eight points clear of Huddersfield Town in third thanks to a remarkable run of seven consecutive victories.
While the reborn Jonjo Shelvey (below) and the league’s top scorer Dwight Gayle have earned plaudits aplenty for their performances, the likes of Matt Ritchie, Ciaran Clark, Yoan Gouffran and Jamaal Lascelles have helped form the spine of a team that is proving itself to be far above Championship standards.
Ominously, however, Quinn believes that Newcastle can still get better as they approach the festive period.
“I honestly believe far more is yet to come from Rafa Benitez’s Magpies,” the 54-year-old told The Chronicle. “For that reason, my season rating so far would be 8 out of 10.
“Newcastle are plodding along nicely and going about their business but, as Rafa keeps making clear, there is still plenty of room for improvement.
“Take Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Cardiff City for example. Yes the Magpies eventually won the game, but they were nowhere near clinical enough and were made to fight to the very end by the Bluebirds.”
And, while Quinn reserved praise for the “terrific” Shelvey, the “genius” Ritchie and the “outstanding” Lascelles, he insists that strike duo Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic have to contribute more in the final third.
Perez has been a firm favourite of Benitez this season but continues to be blighted by inconsistency, struggling in particular against physical defensive units.
Meanwhile, although Mitrovic has provided four goals and an assist in his last three games in league and cup, the Serbian is yet to convince the former Real Madrid manager that he warrants a place in his starting line-up, having only featured from the off on three occasions this season.
“I’ve said a few times over the last six months that I expect more goals from both of them,” Quinn, who scored 59 times in 115 league appearances for Newcastle, added.
“In recent weeks, they have started to deliver on that. They are both still works in progress but, just like every other member of that squad, the competition for places is driving them on to achieve more.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
