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Surely, Tuesday must bring a start for Aleksandar Mitrovic?

Newcastle United are desperate to make progress in the EFL Cup but Rafa Benitez has used the competition to give players a chance to flex their muscles – and no-one needs game time as much as Mitrovic.

His 10 minutes for United against Ipswich were pretty uneventful but sooner or later, he’s going to have to either be given some time on the pitch or there’s going to be a decision to be made.

United’s problem – Benitez reckons – is that Mitrovic and Dwight Gayle doesn’t have enough balance. And given the way United have scored so freely with Gayle being partnered by either Mo Diame or Ayoze Perez, it’s difficult to argue with that.

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But Mitrovic can be a real threat on his day, and he showed in an underperforming side last season just what he can do. The EFL Cup would seem like the perfect stage for Mitrovic to show his worth – and if he plays well against Preston he will start to really force the black and white issue.

If he doesn’t play, you’d have to wonder where the next game is coming from. January is edging closer, and Benitez has some big decisions to make on the big man.