ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC appreciates the support he has from Newcastle United’s fans but he can understand why Rafael Benitez is finding it hard to play him regularly.

Mitrovic’s double in Tuesday night’s EFL Cup victory over Preston North End again highlighted his capabilities in the final third, despite a season when he has struggled to start games.

Regardless of his brace – which led to him dancing to supporters chanting ‘Mitro’s on Fire’ after the final whistle was blown - there is every chance he will find himself back on the bench when the Magpies face Preston in the Championship on Saturday.

Dwight Gayle tops the scoring charts in the division following his summer switch from Crystal Palace and that has made it harder for his squad-mate to force his way into the manager’s plans after missing the opening four games through suspension.

And Mitrovic, whose attitude has been praised by Benitez in recent weeks even though it is being demanded that he continues to improve in that area, is willing to accept the reasons why he has found it hard this season, even though he has impressed when he has played.

The Serbian striker said: “It was a good night for me on Tuesday. It was a long time since I started a game so I was happy to start and to get two goals. They were nice goals too.

“I could have had one or two more but it doesn’t matter. My job is to score and create goals, so I am happy.

“It’s not been easy for me as a striker because you have Dwight Gayle who is scoring every game almost. I say I love Dwight, I like him a lot as a person and as a player. I will keep going and that’s all I keep saying.

“I am working hard. If you are a good player you have to push yourself until you get your chance. I am doing that until I get my chance. I hope that when I get my next chance I will score and do well again.”

Mitrovic also scored in the 6-0 victory at Queens Park Rangers earlier this season and those three strikes are the only occasions he has found the net, with the exception of his double for his country earlier this month.

Despite having to bide his time among the substitutes more often than not in the Championship, the £14m forward remains well liked by fans who enjoy his uncompromising style and volatile approach.

“The fans are the reason I came to this great club,” said Mitrovic. “It’s unbelievable, especially when you score here at St James’ Park. My heart is full for this club, I couldn’t be happier when I score goals for these fans and this club.

“When you hear the whole stadium sing your name it really is unbelievable. I have heard them sing ‘Mitro is on Fire’ and it really is … unbelievable. I have not felt like this for a long time.

“I had really good fans behind me at a really big club like Anderlecht and Partizan as well. But here you get 52,000, and when you are a boy you dream about things like this.

“I have scored goals for Partizan, Anderlecht and now here, all three clubs are amazing. But when 52,000 people sing your name you have to be on the pitch to feel this. It is hard to put it into words.”

After securing a place in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, Newcastle must focus on maintaining their position at the top of the Championship as they push for promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Having hit Preston for six on Tuesday there will be a drive before 3pm on Saturday to ensure Newcastle do not expect a similarly easy ride when they travel to Deepdale in the league.

Mitrovic said: “It was an amazing night, a great performance, with good goals and it was great for the team. Preston are a good team too, and they got a red card early which made it easier, but it was hard to play against them.

“It will be harder to face them again on Saturday I am sure. The scoreline was not the scoreline we should be expecting at Preston, it will be hard there, they are a proper Championship team and play with a lot of pressure.”

While Newcastle impressed against Preston at the first time of asking, Mitrovic might have had his first hat-trick for the club had Matt Ritchie allowed him to take a second half penalty.

Ritchie refused to hand over the ball after earning the penalty himself and Mitrovic explained how the Scotland international was perfectly within his rights to say ‘no’.

“Matt was down to take the penalties,” said Mitrovic. “I asked him if I could try to score. It was nothing. It was Matt’s. I just fancied my chances. He scored a good penalty. It was nothing. As long as we are scoring goals it doesn’t matter who scores.”

He added: “At the start of the season we knew what we wanted to achieve this season. We wanted to go as far as possible in the cups and stay up and around the top of the Championship.

“We want to get promotion. We are doing well but it is a long season, there are a lot of games, hard games and it will be difficult for sure. We will all be involved and we just need to score goals, whoever scores them.”