Can Mitrovic cut it in the Premier League? – Ghana Latest Football News, Live Scores, Results

Ninety-six objectives and three promotions in four-and-a-half seasons have made Aleksandar Mitrovic a cult hero at Fulham

The previous two seasons might hardly have been extra completely different for Aleksandar Mitrovic.

In 2020-21 the Fulham and Serbia striker endured depressing lows for membership and nation.

Within the Premier League he began solely a 3rd of the Cottagers’ video games as they have been relegated, whereas it was his missed penalty in a shootout in opposition to Scotland that meant his nation didn’t qualify for the delayed Euro 2020.

However the previous 12 months have provided redemption for the 27-year-old.

He broke the Championship scoring report, registering 43 objectives in 44 video games, serving to Fulham to promotion for the third time since becoming a member of in January 2018.

And it was his added-time header in November in opposition to Portugal – his eighth of the qualifying marketing campaign – which despatched Serbia to this winter’s World Cup and left a disconsolate Cristiano Ronaldo needing a play-off to achieve Qatar.

But regardless of a exceptional 12 months, questions stay about Mitrovic’s skill to chop it on the highest stage.

Has he actually flopped within the Premier League?

Mitrovic’s three full Premier League seasons – two with Fulham and one with Newcastle – have all led to relegation.

He scored 9 occasions in 34 league appearances in 2015-16 as a 20-year-old at St James’ Park following a £13m transfer from Anderlecht.

His first top-flight season with Fulham started with Slavisa Jokanovic in cost and ended with Scott Parker, by way of a joyless spell beneath Claudio Ranieri.

Mitrovic was a key a part of the crew that season, beginning 37 league video games and scoring 11 objectives. That’s one purpose fewer than Romelu Lukaku at Manchester United, Roberto Firmino at Liverpool and Son Heung-min at Tottenham, and yet another than the likes of United’s Marcus Rashford and Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha.

So that might hardly be thought-about a complete failure.

After his objectives once more helped Fulham to promotion in 2019-20, his final Premier League marketing campaign was a depressing one, beginning solely 13 occasions and scoring three objectives as he fell out of favour beneath Parker.

“Though he hasn’t actually achieved it for us in Premier League, he does not take any blame for poor seasons there,” Fulham’s report scorer Gordon Davies explains.

“Gamers round him, ways and crew play weren’t ok to see the most effective of Mitrovic. However now with Marco Silva, we now have extra attacking gamers with higher high quality. So I am hoping for a much-improved Fulham this coming season. Then, I am positive we’ll additionally see a much-improved Mitrovic at Premier League stage.

“Within the Premier League he has by no means been in a crew from the highest 10. He was all the time combating relegation. Which means two issues: that you do not rating many objectives, and that you’re all the time defending.

“Parker did not play a really expansive sport and Aleksandar typically discovered himself up entrance by himself, with two or three markers. You would put three defenders round Cristiano Ronaldo and he wouldn’t rating that many. That was precisely the identical with Mitrovic.

“Below Parker you can see he wasn’t having fun with it. Below Silva, you may inform the distinction by the smile on his face.”

Mitrovic’s type has additionally advanced dramatically beneath Silva. Beforehand extra of a goal man, now he drops deeper to hyperlink play, in the same method to Harry Kane at Tottenham.

That freedom was given to him by Silva and it’s that relationship that ensured Mitrovic stayed at Craven Cottage, having been near leaving final summer time as his relationship with former boss Parker deteriorated.

“When he got here, he stayed in the midst of the park and was sluggish to get large,” added Davies. “Now he has confidence, appears fitter, has misplaced weight and is an all-round athlete. He places defenders beneath strain and I like his angle. If he scores 43 objectives he desires 44.”

‘He is sort of a sponge’

Vuk Rasovic was among the many first individuals to identify Mitrovic’s potential when the younger striker was within the FK Partizan youth system.

Rasovic labored for the Belgrade membership as an assistant and in 2011 took over as head coach at Teleoptik, Partizan’s feeder membership within the second division.

He determined to take Mitrovic with him, though the ahead was solely 16 and had no expertise of senior soccer.

“He was a younger, formidable lad, decided to succeed,” Rasovic recalled. “As quickly as I first spoke to him, I could not assist noticing the wonderful vitality. He was an unfinished product however his physique was excellent, simply what trendy soccer requires. Even at 17 he was in a position to maintain onto the ball. His potential was apparent. He would quickly develop into fully dominant within the penalty field.

“Needless to say we performed in a really powerful division for a teenager. The Serbian second division was stuffed with skilled gamers. Battling with them, he confirmed glimpses of nice issues to come back. He was previous that stage in a short time and inside a 12 months he was taking part in for Partizan, scoring essential objectives.”

Rasovic considers Mitrovic’s skill to pay attention and study to be amongst his prime property.

“He was like a sponge, he would always remember a factor,” added the coach. “He would study so quick and readily accepted any type of recommendation. It was wonderful. We’d undergo some particulars in coaching solely as soon as and, come sport time, he would implement it on the pitch, after which maintain doing it. It was fascinating to see his vitality, his need, mixed along with his expertise and data.”

That was why Mitrovic was given knowledgeable contract after a 12 months at Teleoptik and instantly broke into Partizan’s beginning XI. He turned a younger star of the crew and was bought to Anderlecht in August 2013. He scored 16 league objectives as they received the Belgian title.

Left-back Olivier Deschacht was his team-mate again then: “We had a troublesome begin to the season however then we purchased Mitrovic. He was essential from the primary second. We performed a really dominant sport with numerous crosses – he might play excessive and put the ball in. Now, after I see him, he has develop into full. He can do every thing.”

Mitrovic was 18 then, so he was not precisely a frontrunner within the dressing room and he stays a quieter determine than individuals may think given his fiery on-field manner.

“He is a quiet boy,” stated Deschacht. “He likes to joke and may be very humorous however he isn’t the loudest. He listens to the coaches and does his duties. I bear in mind he modified his hair each month. Simply search some photos… he had completely different types. Additionally when he scored he appreciated to do some particular celebrations. He appreciated to impress in that means, however he performed properly and scored, so he might afford it and everyone accepted it.”

‘No-one is aware of how far he can go’Crucial of Mitrovic’s 46 worldwide objectives got here when he scored late on in qualifying to ship Serbia to the World Cup at Portugal’s expense

Regardless of being prolific for his golf equipment – his Anderlecht type earned him the transfer to Newcastle in 2015 – Mitrovic has not all the time discovered issues straightforward at worldwide stage.

In 2013, he helped Serbia win the Below-19 European Championship and was named participant of the event.

However within the senior crew, his scoring report was not nice at the beginning, managing simply two objectives in his first 20 appearances.

Since then, although, he has added 44 in 53 video games and is his nation’s report scorer. It was his six objectives within the 2018 World Cup qualifiers that actually received the followers over.

Now he’s a nationwide hero.

“There are not any Serbia followers actually, simply Crimson Star and Partizan followers,” stated Vladimir Novakovic, a Serbian soccer journalist. “They are usually very hostile to the opposition gamers and it takes numerous effort to show it round. That ‘Mitro’ did it’s nothing wanting a miracle.

“I deeply hope that he does one thing large and exquisite in Qatar. I hope he helps Serbia by turning into one of many World Cup’s prime scorers.”

Rasovic is definite Mitrovic has not reached his restrict but.

“We’re nonetheless in contact,” stated his ex-coach. “I do know his each day routines and the best way he prepares for every sport. I discover he’s by no means glad along with his present stage, he all the time desires extra.

“Once we discuss, I typically inform him: ‘Do not cease, go on, no-one is aware of how far you may go. You have achieved rather a lot, however you are still younger, and you are able to do extra.’ I can guarantee you, he’ll get even higher.”

Proving the Premier League doubters mistaken is the following large step.

“If he finishes with between 12 and 15 objectives, that might be a very good season for Mitrovic,” stated Davies.

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Supply: bbc.com