Newcastle boss Benitez stands by Mitrovic sale

Rafael Benitez stands by his decision to allow Aleksandar Mitrovic to leave Newcastle.

The Serbian striker has scored four goals in as many Premier League games since a permanent move to Fulham, where his 12 Championship goals while on loan during the second half of last season helped the Whites win promotion via the play-offs.

Salomon Rondon, on the other hand, is yet to score a league goal since replacing him at Newcastle.

But Benitez said: “Each player has his own environment and they can do well in one team and maybe not as well in the other one.

“He (Mitrovic) is doing well. He did well for Serbia. But Rondon was doing well for Venezuela.

“We had to make a decision in terms of what we needed and we knew what we needed. It doesn’t change my decision.”