The Serbian striker required lengthy treatment and could play no further part at St. Andrew's after colliding with Blues goalkeeper Adam Legzdins in the build-up to Daryl Murphy's opener.

He was taken to hospital but Benitez has confirmed that the injury was a "cut" and Mitrovic was able to travel back to Tyneside with his team-mates.

“We have to wait," the manager told NUFC TV. "It’s a cut, maybe his knee, his leg.

“We’ll have to wait when he gets back from the hospital what they say to us.

“We knew that he was training and just thinking about playing well in this game, and it was a pity because we had to take him off.

“It changed everything for us and changed everything for him, because he was ready for this game and I think for us, in terms of the game plan, it also changed everything."