What to do with a problem like Aleksandar Mitrovic?
It’s hardly a secret that Benitez does not think he can trust Mitrovic.
He will point to last Saturday’s needless altercation with Manuel Lanzini, for which Mitrovic will sit out crucial games against Swansea, Stoke and Brighton, as evidence of that.
But United’s flawed and overly cautious approach in the transfer window means that a Mitrovic departure never looked likely.
Newcastle would only ever sell at a profit despite Benitez’s obvious preference to exchange strikers he became resigned fairly early on that he would need to find a way to unlock Mitrovic’s potential.
It’s an example of where Benitez’s judgement should have been backed over economic concerns.
As it is, the manager will work on the training ground with a striker who can be infuriating but does know where the goal is.
Since pre-season, he’s hit a goal every 72 minutes. That is something to work with.