Mitro given further warning by Schteve

From the Chronicle:

Steve McClaren believes that when Aleksandar Mitrovic “goes over the edge” he “might as well” go and sit on the touchline alongside the Newcastle United boss.

The 21-year-old got himself involved in a few scraps with Stoke City centre-backs Ryan Shawcross and Philip Wollscheid during the goalless draw at St James’ Park on Saturday, and was booked in the process.

He was also sent-off against Arsenal earlier in the season, having already been yellow-carded during his first two appearances off the bench, and McClaren accepts the £13million summer signing was “reckless” then, but he wants Mitrovic to keep “playing on the edge”.

When asked about Mitrovic’s temperament after the Stoke draw, McClaren: “He is learning and he is becoming a fans’ favourite because he plays on the edge and when he goes over the edge, he might as well sit with me.

“But he has to keep the composure under control, which is something he has to learn against very experienced centre-backs.

“He has to learn. The Premier League is totally different to anything he has played in before, it is a few steps and he is adapting and learning; I think he is doing it very well.

“It was reckless at the beginning, he has learned from that and is not so reckless now but we don’t want him not to play on the edge because that is what we want him for.”

Mitrovic and Wollscheid clashed midway through the second-half at St James’ Park, with both walking away from the incident with bookings.

The Serbian international went down easily holding his face after Wollscheid shoved an elbow into him, and McClaren admits Mitrovic’s yellow card almost led to the striker being brought off.

McClaren does believe Mitrovic is starting to develop an understanding with Ayoze Perezin attack though, and the fact his striker could have nicked a winner is the main reason he was not substituted.

“There was a temptation to pull him (Mitrovic) off (after his yellow card) but an incident like that can also give you energy and impetus,” McClaren revealed.

“I am always reluctant to pull strikers off because they are match-winners and they often say: ‘Gaffer, the last 10 minutes is my time and my opportunity might come.’

“I had to keep that in mind and it nearly worked.

“He has a difficult enough role; he is our main target man and his link up with Perez is very good, as it is with Gini (Georginio Wijnaldum) and Moussa (Sissoko).

“He is a big focal point (for us).”

Personally I don't mind him getting involved with the centre backs. I know he has taken a bit of a slating for his play acting and rightly so. However that is what you get with modern footballers. They throw themselves around. He gave those two Stoke lads a tough game. He just has to be a bit more clinical as we are creating plenty of chances. Perez and Gini created a lot o good situations on Saturday, and while Butland was exceptional, you still need to put one away.