The Newcastle United striker won a point for Serbia and made one to Rafael Benitez on Sunday.
John Hartson hit the nail on the head.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Hartson claimed that there was a “top-rate target man in there somewhere” in regards to Newcastle United’s Aleksandar Mitrovic.
He salvaged a point for Serbia against Wales in World Cup qualifying last night with a crisp, composed finish in the final quarter of the clash in Belgrade.
His heroics on Sunday comes on the back of a disappointing individual season for the former Anderlecht man, who only started 11 Championship games after Dwight Gayle made the number nine role his own for much of the 2016-17 campaign.
According to The Chronicle, Rafael Benitez would offload him if a £14 million offer – the figure United paid Anderlecht in 2015 – came in for him, but the Spanish manager would be wise to keep him at St James’s Park for at least another season.
He is undoubtedly erratic, inconsistent and his attitude might need an adjustment but, at 22, time is most definitely on his side to iron out these creases and begin to let his football do the talking for Newcastle in the future.
His potential, at times, speaks for itself and a lot of supporters would be disappointed to see him leave the North-East this summer.
He has already proven himself a decent option in the Premier League, netting nine top-flight goals for a team who were relegated in 2016. If given opportunities, he will do enough to ensure that his valuation will not plummet next season.
There is very little to lose by keeping him around for another year, and plenty to potentially gain.
Hartson is right. There is a class player in there somewhere – Benitez just has to draw it out of him.
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