Aleksandar Mitrovic has endured a mixed time since arriving at Newcastle United.
Serbia boss Slavoljub Muslin has suggested Aleksandar Mitrovic’s turbulent spell with Newcastle may be down to the fact that he feels more appreciated playing for his country than for his club, the Daily Mail reports.
Mitrovic has endured an up and down time since he arrived at St James’ Park back in 2015, proving to hardly be prolific but winning some admirers for his often-tireless displays.
His most recent performance for Rafa Benitez’s men perhaps encapsulated the frustrations that arise from watching the forward, as while he scored against West Ham, he has since picked up a three-game suspension for a completely unnecessary elbow on Manuel Lanzini.
And after he followed it up with a goal for Serbia in their World Cup qualifier with Moldova at the weekend – his 10th international goal in just 29 caps – Muslin suggested that Newcastle may actually be responsible for Mitrovic’s inconsistency rather than the player himself.
“Maybe the system we play with three attackers suits him better,” he said, as reported by the Mail.
“Perhaps the coach in Newcastle doesn’t have as much confidence in him as I do. He is our first centre forward. Perhaps he feels more comfortable playing for the national team than he does for his own club.”
It is unlikely that many Newcastle supporters will criticise Benitez’s handling of Mitrovic given that the suspension he picked up following the West Ham highlighted that those looking to rely on him have to do so with plenty of caution.
In fact, there may be some whose only criticism of Benitez may be the fact that he did not use the summer window to get off him off the books – though the Mail suggest that he was available – and get another striker in.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
