Former Newcastle number nine Malcolm Macdonald has launched an attack on Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic by urging the club to offload him as soon as possible.
The centre forward joined Newcastle in a reported £15million transfer from Anderlecht, but so far has failed to live up to the form he demonstrated in both the Belgian League and the Champions League.
He managed to hit home nine goals in 34 league appearances during his debut season for the club, which was not enough to prevent them from being relegated.
Last season in the Championship saw him play second fiddle to new arrival Dwight Gayle, while he fought it out with Republic of Ireland striker Daryl Murphy to be next in line for boss Rafael Benitez’s.
This saw him make just 11 starts out his 25 league appearances, in which he hit a disappointing four goals.
However, despite his seemingly poor performances, he has become a firm fan favourite with his all-action, passionate performances.
Now Macdonald, fondly known as “Supermac” as a result of his 95 goals in 187 appearances which leave him as Newcastle’s fifth top scorer, has given a damning verdict on the future of the 27-time-capped Serbian international, saying that the club should be looking to sell him as soon as possible.
“On what he’s done this past season I wouldn’t have him in the club, he’s just taking up room,” he told the Chronicle.
“He wasn’t able to do it at Championship level, he’s not going to be able to do it at Premiership level.
“I’d get him out as quickly as possible.
“To finish with a tally of four – in his position I would have been embarrassed.”
Mitrovic may not be a Newcastle player for much longer, with Fanatik reporting that the Magpies are willing to do a deal which would see them recoup £13million of what they spent two years ago.