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Aleksandar Mitrovic has outlined the extent of his commitment to Newcastle United by telling fans he is ready to put his body on the line for the Magpies this season.

The Serbian striker is loved by the supporters, and even though he’s missed the first four matches of the season through suspension his name has still been chanted by fans in the opening games.

Banned after a late tackle on Kyle Walker which earned him a red card in the 5-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur, Mitrovic ended a tough first season under a cloud.

But he wants to return with a bang against Cheltenham Town in the EFL Cup – and wants fans to know he cares as passionately about the club as he does.

When asked if he’d learned his lessons from last season, Mitrovic told the Chronicle: “I know what to expect now - last season I didn’t.

“I needed time to settle and see how it worked here, but now I know how to play and what to expect.

“I know what to do so I’ll try to be like Ronaldo or Messi and score 50 or 60 goals.

“If I have to I will die on the pitch for Newcastle.”

Mitrovic, though, does not believe he has to change the way he plays and if anything the big striker is exactly what Newcastle have missed so far this term.

He said: “I have my own style. I will do anything to win the game.

“I won’t change my style or who I am.

“This is who I am and have been all my life so I don’t want to change this.

“When I go out there I will do anything I can to help my team-mates to win the game.

“I am hungry and want to win every game. Of course I have learned from the red cards after bad tackles but I didn’t mean to do that.

“I didn’t want to hurt anybody, I just tried to win the ball but it looked bad. I didn’t mean it.”

Mitrovic has scored nine times for Newcastle so far since arriving from Anderlecht last summer, but will fancy his chances of adding to that against League Two Cheltenham.

He said: “For me it’s the first game after a two-week break.

“I will use any means possible to get back into game shape.

“I will see how it works for me after a few weeks. I want to run a lot and score my first goals this season.”

And he understands what the cup competitions mean to Newcastle fans after so many years have trickled away with out winning one.

He said: “I watched cup finals in England when I was younger.

“It’s a different feeling to watch and to play, so hopefully I will play in one some day. Hopefully, this season, but this is a tough league as well.”

Many fans wanted to see Mitrovic handed the No 9 shirt this season, but it was eventually handed to Dwight Gayle.

Explaining why he didn’t end up taking it, Mitrovic said: “We were both wanting the No 9 shirt.

“I said to him you can have the shirt as it could have made a problem between the players.

“For me I like No 45 anyway. It’s my lucky number and I will stay with it.

“I also like nine, but we made a deal for him to have it. I’m younger so for now I will keep this number.”