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Is Aleksandar Mitrovic the man to save Newcastle United from relegation?
Newcastle United signed Aleksandar Mitrovic from Anderlecht last summer. He scored 36 league goals in his two years in Belgium, including 20 in his last season to be the league’s top scorer, so Newcastle fans rightly had high expectations of him.
While it has taken some time for him to adjust to the Premier League, the young Serbian striker has recently given Newcastle fans hope in their bid to avoid relegation. The Magpies are currently six points from safety and two behind rivals Sunderland. They haven’t won a match since the start of February and have lost four of their last five games.
However, the defeat against Norwich on Saturday and the draw in the Tyne-Wear derby were both matches in which Mitrovic showed why he was worth the money that Newcastle paid for him. Mitrovic has scored eight goals and got two assists this season and only Georginio Wijnaldum has scored more than him.
In the Tyne-Wear Derby, he was very good. He used his physical strength and did not give Sunderland defenders a moments peace. When he scored Newcastle’s equalizer just seven minutes from time, the delight and joy was there for all to see. As his confidence builds, so will his importance for Newcastle.
He is going to be crucial as his team fight for Premier League survival. Mitrovic has scored as many Premier League goals in his last two games (three) as he did in his previous 18 combined. Could Rafa Benitez be the reason for Mitrovic’s resurgence? Well he certainly has the backing of the former Chelsea and Liverpool manager.
After the heart-breaking 3-2 defeat on Saturday, Rafa , “It was good for Mitrovic because he scored two and it can be good for his confidence and the rest of the season if he keeps scoring goals.” Benitez also said that Mitrovic has the potential, “but we have to help him a little bit with better crosses, better deliveries, and being closer to him. He will score goals if we can do that.”
As well as an improvement in his recent form, Mitrovic is a very vocal player. When you’re involved in a relegation battle, that’s just what you need. He spoke to NUFC TV after the Norwich defeat and , “Our fans were amazing, like always. I hope they will stay with us for these seven games because we will need them now more than ever. With them, I think anything is possible.”
He’s right. Newcastle have one of the biggest fan bases in the Premier League and it would be a shame to see them go down again but they have to realise that being at the summit of English football is a privilege and not a right. Mitrovic realises that and hopefully he can galvanise the rest of the team so that they do as well.
Mitrovic might be hot-headed and sometimes makes rash decisions, as illustrated by the four yellow and one red card he has received this season, but he is passionate as well. Passion is one of the best attributes a player can have, especially when they are in Newcastle’s position.
When he suffered a head injury during the Tyne-Wear derby, he was furious that he had to come off and was physically restrained by the club doctor. He later apologised to the club doctor and said that he didn’t know the rules. His actions showed that he cared, because he thought that he could get the winner if he stayed on the pitch.
Determination and persistence like this has been missing from Newcastle this season and even their remaining fixtures are far from easy, Mitrovic seems committed to fighting for every point.