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Mitrovic "Has The Potential", Says Rafa
Written by Newcastle Utd
Boss Rafa Benitez says Aleksandar Mitrovic has the "potential" to become United's latest goalscoring hero
By Tom Easterby - Newcastle United Club Reporter
Rafa Benitez says Aleksandar Mitrovic has the "potential" to become Newcastle United's latest goalscoring hero - if his teammates can provide him with enough service.
The 21-year-old nodded in a Georginio Wijnaldum cross to earn the Magpies a point in Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby at St. James' Park, after Jermain Defoe had given Sunderland a first half lead.
And afterwards, new boss Benitez said the Serbian frontman has the ability to score the goals that could help his side move away from the Barclays Premier League drop zone - if United can give him the chances he craves.
"He has the potential, so we have to help him a little bit with better crosses, better deliveries, and support him and being closer to him. He will score goals if we do that," said Benitez.
Mitrovic's afternoon was brought to a premature end shortly after his 83rd-minute equaliser when he sustained a head injury while challenging for a cross.
He initially made it clear that he intended to continue, but the Club's doctor Paul Catterson intervened to ensure the player's safety.
And, speaking after his first home game in charge of United, Benitez reserved praise for Catterson's handling of the situation.
"In this case with Mitrovic, the positive thing is that he wanted to play," he said. "The good thing about the doctor is he was stopping him just in case, and I think he was right because he was unconscious, so you have to protect the player."
The Magpies' next outing is at Norwich City on Saturday, 2nd April, following the upcoming international break.
Benitez said that he and the players needed to use the pause in Premier League action to build on the encouraging signs they've shown in their last two games.
And he also assured supporters that United would continue to "fight" to preserve their top flight status.
"I am here because I have to give the team confidence and we have to improve things," he continued.
"Against Leicester, we could see a lot of good things, but still not enough. Against Sunderland, in the second half, there were a lot of good things but not enough.
"We now have the international break and we can keep working with the rest of the players that will be here, and hopefully we can improve. We have eight games to play, and we know that it could be difficult.
"What we have to do is to prepare for the next game, try to analyse what we did badly and try and change these things.
"We are creating chances, we are attacking and we can be there, so we have to improve this part of the game and then create more chances, and then Mitrovic or Papiss Cisse or the other strikers will score more goals and we'll be fine.
"If we have to fight until the last game and the last minute, we have to do it."