Mitrovic will be Ful of incentive on his St James’ return - Ranieri

FORMER Newcastle United striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has a point to prove when he makes his first return to St James’ Park this weekend, believes Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri.

The 24-year-old striker will play on Tyneside for the first time since departing for the Cottagers permanently during the summer in an initial £22million deal.

Serbia international Mitrovic has scored seven Premier League goals this season - three more than United’s top marksman Salomon Rondon - but the Cottagers’ forward has netted just twice since September.

During three years on Tyneside, Mitrovic scored 14 goals in 65 league games but struggled to convince manager Rafa Benitez he could work effectively within the Magpies’ system.

Mitrovic himself admitted earlier this year Benitez’s style “did not suit” him and he feels more at home playing in Fulham’s attacking style.

While Ranieri accepts Mitrovic did not fulfil his potential on Tyneside, he is backing his forward to have an “outstanding” first match back at St James’ Park.

He said: “I don’t know - I hope Aleksandar will do a good match.

“I hope when a player goes back to a previous club he wants to show something more and, at Newcastle, he did not do a good job.

“It is not easy to adapt to English football.

When you play in other countries you can touch the ball two or three times.

“However, in England one touch is too much - you must play half touch and the player coming has to think about it.” crucial. Fulham have conceded 42 goals this season and, despite the arrival of Claudio Ranieri, they are struggling to find their feet back in the top flight.

There should be plenty of gaps for Newcastle to expose here - so if they stick to Rafa Benitez’s game plan it could be a happy Christmas at St James.’

Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)

His last trip to Tyneside was the first home game of the season, which ended in a 2-1 defeat against Spurs.