Newcastle United supporters have been drowning their sorrows in the Transfer Tavern this weekend after seeing their side go down 3-1 to Premier League champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, thus inflicting a fifth defeat in six matches on the North East giants.
Rafa Benitez’s men made a decent start to life back in the top-flight by winning four of their opening nine games, yet they have since seriously struggled for form in picking up just one point out of a possible 18. And although they took the lead in West London on Saturday through striker Dwight Gayle, Antonio Conte’s Blues hit back as a brace from Eden Hazard as well as an Alvaro Morata header sealed a comfortable victory for the hosts, thus securing a tenth Premier League victory of the campaign, at the same time inflicting an eighth defeat on Benitez’s Newcastle.
Thus, there have been many frustrated and disappointed Magpies fans in the Tavern in recent times, and there appears to be no respite for those suffering supporters if a recent report from Nieuws Blad (via The Newcastle Chronicle) is anything to go by, which provides details about the future of striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.
The 23-year-old made the move to St James’ Park back in 2015 but has since struggled for regular first team starts in the North East, with just 39 of his 71 appearances for the club coming from the beginning of matches.
And with just five substitute cameos in the Premier League so far this term, the Serbia international doesn’t appear to be high up Benitez’s pecking order, even if he remains a fan favourite, and reports suggest that the forward is interested in returning to Belgian outfit Anderlecht in the January window.
Mitrovic spent two seasons at the First Division club between 2013 and 2015 and in that time scored 44 goals in just 90 games, and with a World Cup coming up in the summer, it’s a move he may feel he has to make in a bid to both make the Serbia squad, and indeed make a difference in Russia.
Landlord’s verdict: It’s been a testing few weeks for Newcastle United and their supporters, what with the Magpies having won just one of their last ten Premier League games following defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.
Yet one man who hasn’t had much of a look-in during their dreadful run is fan favourite Aleksandar Mitrovic, and reports suggest that he could well be seeking a move away from St James’ Park in January as he attempts to land the first team football that would see him make Serbia’s World Cup squad.
And with former club Anderlecht reportedly interested, where Mitrovic bagged a sensational 44 goals in just 90 games, and the man himself also thought to want the move, it doesn’t look like there is much of a future for the 23-year-old at the North East giants.
Newcastle fans… what do you make of the news? Let us know!
