Newcastle United legend Mick Quinn has admitted that he is thoroughly looking forward to seeing the clash between Jamaal Lascelles and Aleksandar Mitrovic when Fulham travel to Tyneside on Saturday afternoon.
The 24/yo Serbian striker was deemed surplus to requirements by Rafa Benitez last January and made his move to West London permanent over the summer in a deal worth around £20 million.
Since then he has scored seven times in the Premier League for the Cottagers, and former Magpies’ forward Quinn is intrigued to see how he measures up against Toon Army captain Lascelles.
Writing in his column for the Chronicle, he said: “I heard one or two fans moaning earlier this season saying that if we had Mitrovic we would have been better off.
“Well look, the manager made his decision, and Mitrovic left, has done well, and I wish him well but I hope he doesn’t enjoy this weekend!
“I’m looking forward to see the match-up between Jamaal Lascelles and Mitrovic, and I think both players will be.
“It’ll be a physical battle. That is what sport is all about – competing, and it’ll be a cracking one as long they stay within the laws of game, I don’t mind it being feisty but don’t want anyone sent off or any excuses for anyone being sent off.”
OPINION
Newcastle fans would have been justified in being confused when Rafa Benitez allowed Aleksandar Mitrovic to leave St. James’ Park earlier this year, but the recent form of Salomon Rondon has gone a long way towards vindicating his decision. The Venezuelan is, on the face of it, a similar player to the Serbian – physically imposing, relatively static – but has seemed to find a new lease of life in recent weeks and looks fitter and more intense than ever before. Mitrovic is doing well in London, but there must have been a reason that Benitez didn’t fancy him, and presumably it was simply a case of the man not fitting the system. Saturday’s match up will be an interesting one, but with Newcastle’s current form, and Fulham’s struggles, you wouldn’t be surprised to see the 24-year-old silenced by his old colleagues. If he is, it’s hard to not see the Geordies winning this one.