ON a day when Aleksandar Mitrovic explained how a clash of styles led to his Newcastle United exit, one of the men who replaced him has been told his chance will come in the role he wants to shine.

Yoshinori Muto was a £9.5m buy from Mainz in the summer and his arrival helped Mitrovic seal his move to Fulham, in a deal that could eventually be worth £27m.

Despite his high value and a growing international reputation, Mitrovic struggled to make an impact under Rafa Benitez because his work-rate did not suit the Spaniard’s tactical approach on Tyneside.

Muto, on the other hand, has already shown in his three substitute appearances in the Premier League and his outing at Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup that he has the energy and running to cover the sort of grass his manager wants.

The big question mark is whether the Japanese international can deliver the goals and assists required to make Newcastle a greater force, having seen Mitrovic already find the net four times in four appearances since sealing his permanent switch to Craven Cottage.

Benitez – who has also signed Salomon Rondon to lead the line for Newcastle - would not be looking to compare the two, but admits that Muto needs time before he is seriously judged because he hasn’t even been playing where he would want to just yet.

“I think he's a striker,” said Benitez, when he was asked to assess Muto’s start to life at Newcastle. “We are missing a couple of positions and he can play those so he has had to play in those.

“To be fair, he has been unlucky because when he went on at Cardiff, we had to change the system and he had to go as a midfielder, and against Chelsea when we put him on the pitch, we changed to 4-1-4-1 at the end, so he had to go back too. He was not playing in his ideal position in the games he has played.”

While Muto’s work-rate has been high and his desire to impress clear, he has looked like a player who could take time to adapt to the English game. However, Benitez knows that he will put the yards in.

That was something the Newcastle boss got frustrated with when he fielded Mitrovic. Benitez has made no secret of the fact that he thinks all of his players have to work in tandem and as a team because he does not possess the sort of quality in his ranks to rely on individuals.

And even Mitrovic, speaking for the first time about his relationship and feelings towards Benitez, admits that he was never suited to the way he was being asked to play by the former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager.

“Benitez plays defence and counter-attack,” Mitrovic told the Mail. “I tried to give my best but it wasn’t me. I was just running and getting in the team shape.

“He told me what he wanted and I tried but I am 90 kilos and if I run so much defensively I have no power left when I am in the box. He knew I couldn’t play in that style and I felt it too.

“Defensively he was one of the best and you can see that when they play, but personally I like to be close to the opponents’ box. I need crosses and service.”

His role at Fulham is different, with Mitrovic effectively allowed to lead the line at the top of the system while those around him but more of the defensive work in.

Slavisa Jokanovic, his compatriot and manager, has got the best out of him since signing him on loan in January, initially. He has, though, no problem with Benitez, who has been offered the chance to sign free agent and former Arsenal man Samir Nasri.

Mitrovic said: “I try to pay Slavisa back because he did everything to bring me here. Sometimes I will score and sometimes I won’t, but I give 100 per cent for him. Benitez is a great person and in the end I shook his hand.”