Supporters of Newcastle United have fumed after some comments from Steve Bruce on Aleksandar Mitrovic emerged on Twitter.
During the upcoming round of Premier League fixtures, the Toon host Mitrovic’s current club Fulham on Saturday night (per Premier League).
Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Newcastle’s manager discussed the former Toon striker and said he would have “loved” to have worked with him (per Ciaran Kelly).
He said: “He was great up here, wasn’t he? You can understand why he was a little bit of a cult hero. He’s different. He epitomises what the North East is all about: big, tough, strong, fiercely competitive with a bit of an edge.”
After these comments were relayed to Newcastle fans, many of them fumed.
So, what did these Newcastle fans have to say about Steve Bruce’s comments on Aleksandar Mitrovic?
Bruce would have 'loved' to have worked with Mitrovic: "He was great up here, wasn't he? You can understand why he was a little bit of a cult hero. He's different. He epitomises what the North East is all about: big, tough, strong, fierecely competitive with a bit of an edge."
— Ciaran Kelly (@CiaranKelly__) December 18, 2020
He was useless
— Resilience (@Rattles57970726) December 18, 2020
I watched Aleksandsar M. Which of the Mitrovic family did Steve watch because the one I saw wasn’t a ‘cult hero’. But nice of SB to give his confidence a boost. How about doing that for the NUFC squad.
— William (@billyredhead1) December 18, 2020
So far this season, the 26-year-old Serbian has scored just two goals and provided two assists in 11 Premier League appearances for the Cottagers (per Transfermarkt).
Would you call Aleksandar Mitrovic a cult hero at Newcastle?
No, absolutely not
Yes, I think he is
Everything Bruce is not, ironically.
— Magpie 24/7 (@Magpie24_7) December 18, 2020
He wasn’t great tho was he.. he was a liability at times
Hes great for Serbia…— HVH (@HoltzvonHoltzer) December 18, 2020
Speaks volumes that Rafa didn’t rate him.
— Phill Davison (@DavisonPhill) December 18, 2020
Mitrovic spent two and a half years with Newcastle between 2015 and 2018, having arrived from Anderlecht and left the club for Fulham, initially on loan before the move became permanent.
During his stay at St. James’ Park, the Serbian frontman bagged 17 goals and 10 assists in 72 appearances for the Toon.
He was great?! ????????
— AJ (@nufcaam) December 18, 2020
Well imagine my shock Steve Bruce likes Mitrovic https://t.co/Uq50Tq6Q3y
— kristopher (@kristopheredwa) December 18, 2020
As can be seen in these responses from Newcastle fans, many of them did not concur with what the club’s manager had to say about the £19.8m-rated striker.