Aleksandar Mitrovic has called on his Newcastle team-mates to use their match-winning display against Tottenham as a springboard for escaping relegation.
Steve McClaren’s men came back from 1-0 down to win 2-1 at White Hart Lane on Sunday, with a much-improved showing after half-time key to what was their second successive Premier League victory.
Newcastle are now out of the relegation zone and face bottom-placed Aston Villa at St James’ Park on Saturday and Mitrovic, who scored the equaliser against Spurs having come on as a 72nd minute substitute, feels they cannot drop their standards if they are to triumph in a crucial-looking encounter.
“This season we have had a lot of oscillation. Against teams at the bottom we haven’t played like we have against teams from the top five. We need to change that and to play every game like we did against Man City in the first half, like how we did against Chelsea, and like we did today [against Spurs],” said the Serb. “We need to press and to play football because we have very good players who know how to play, and we need to use that and play every game like this.”
“We have had two wins in a row and we have to continue this form. It is a long season and we need to work hard and prepare for every game like we did this one.”
Mitrovic has struggled to establish himself at Newcastle following his arrival from Anderlecht in July. The 21-year-old has made only nine starts and come off the substitutes’ bench in his last two appearances, against Spurs and in the 3-0 home loss to Leicester last month. But having made a significant impact at the weekend with what was his third goal for Newcastle, Mitrovic hopes McClaren will give him a chance to shine from the start.
“Every game I want to prove myself and I was concentrating on trying to score goals. I scored against Man City and against Norwich and it is the best feeling when you score and when you win in the last minute,” he said.
“I was angry because I spent two games on the bench and I wanted to show that I deserved to play. OK, I didn’t say anything because I respect Papiss Cissé, he played really well the last two weeks and he scored against [Crystal] Palace, and I respect the coach, so I didn’t say anything and I waited for my moment, and it came today. It is hard for anyone to be on the bench but I worked hard and waited for my moment.”
