Mitro impressed no end in battle to keep place in Benitez’s squad
Preston 1 Newcastle 1
IT is easy to forget that Mitrovic is still only 22 years of age, but whether the forward’s Magpies career lasts into a third campaign remains to be seen.
At Deepdale, the Serbia international was given the opportunity to start up front and stake his claim from the beginning of a match, having played 45 minutes at Hearts.
Dwight Gayle started pre-season in excellent fashion by scoring twice at Tynecastle, but it was Mitrovic who was given the opportunity against Preston.
With Adam Armstrong having headed out on loan to Bolton Wanderers and Daryl Murphy having signed for Nottingham Forest on a permanent deal, Mitrovic – who scored four goals in two games inside a week against North End last term – was given the perfect opportunity to stake his claim.
Benitez is actively looking for a striker to bring in this summer – two could yet arrive even – which means Mitrovic simply must impress if he is to remain on Tyneside, with Turkish clubs and also Lyon having already registered an interest in signing him.
But from the very first minute you could see that the Serb was up for this one – and he had his fifth goal in four games against North End after just eight minutes.
Paul Dummett’s right-footed shot was saved and Mitrovic followed up to slot in the rebound and finish off a move he too had started with a long, diagonal ball.
He also rattled the post from a tight angle after controlling the ball well on his chest and then volleying across goal.
The forward’s all-round game was Ciaran Clark, Karl Darlow and Jamaal Lascelles pose for a photo with fans also impressive, with Mitrovic working hard throughout and continuously looking to bring his team-mates into play.
He only lasted 45 minutes before Gayle was brought into the fold but if Mitrovic can impress against Bradford and during the two matches in Germany, then perhaps he does have a long-term United future after all. LEJEUNE was handed his full debut from the start alongside Grant Hanley at the heart of Newcastle’s defence, while Christian Atsu was named on the wing.
Murphy and Manquillo, meanwhile, were both substitutes having only completed their moves from Norwich City and Atletico Madrid respectively this week as United finally made further progress in the transfer market.
During the first half, while Atsu was frustratingly quiet down the wing, Lejeune was impressive once again at centre-back. The Frenchman is calm and composed on the ball and, unlike his defensive partner Hanley, who struggled to contain Jordan Hugill, Lejeune rarely put a foot wrong.
At half-time, Murphy came on for his Magpies debut and, although there were glimpses of his talent, he wasn’t particularly involved much.
The 22-year-old did beat his man a couple of times, but once he was switched out to the left, he rarely saw the ball.
Manquillo, too, was given just 13 minutes as a right-winger and a couple of crosses aside, did not have much time to shine either.
We’ll have to wait for Bradford on Wednesday to see a little bit more of the Magpies’ two latest recruits.
It’s fair to say Preston boss Neil does not like facing Newcastle very much.
In four matches as Norwich manager against United, 24 goals were shared – 14 of which went to the Magpies – and he suffered both a 6-2 trouncing at St James’ Park, as well as THAT 4-3 injury-time victory for Newcastle last season.
That second match led Neil to admit that he did not much enjoy visiting Tyneside, believing decisions had gone against his side. Mercifully for him, unless Preston draw United away in one of the cups for the second consecutive campaign, he won’t have to make the trip up to St James’ this term.
For once, Neil’s blood pressure was able to remain reasonably low in a match against Newcastle. He’ll be pleased he won’t be facing them again this term though... IT’S a rather bizarre situation that Newcastle have got themselves in goalkeeper-wise.