Following the news that Adam Armstrong has extended his loan stay at Barnsley for the remainder of the campaign and growing speculation surrounding the future of out-of-favour striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez had plenty to address in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Magpies’ trip to Birmingham in the FA Cup.
The Champions League winning manager told the press, once again, that the Magpies are targeting a successful cup run this campaign, having exited the EFL Cup on penalties at the hands of Premier League side Hull City earlier this season.
Rafa told the press: “It’s important for players who are not playing to get a chance to show what they can do.
“Just in case you ask, Mitrovic will play and he will start. Don’t worry about that.”
With Daryl Murphy ready to step up to the plate, as well as academy youngsters Callum Roberts and Sean Longstaff potentially being handed starts, it certainly will be interesting to see what team Benitez picks this time out.
Nevertheless, even though Rafa claims not to be interested in selling the Serbian international, in my view it sounds like a summer move is on the cards.
Mitrovic‘s agent recently spoke out regarding his client’s future, as quoted by CalcioNapoli24. He told reporters Mitrovic wasn’t going anywhere in January, but that is the “only certainty”. He went on to admit that there was definite interest from Napoli ‘in the past’ – presumably over the summer.
With Adam Armstrong, Siem de Jong and club legend Emmanuel Riviere returning from loan spells this summer, as well as Ayoze Perez and Daryl Maryl likely to be rewarded with more game time for their efforts both on and off the field, it is extremely difficult to see the big Serb making the cut – especially with little game time under his belt this campaign.
