Former Newcastle and England star slams Moussa Sissoko but hails Aleksandar Mitrovic

Jenas watched the Tyne-Wear derby in which Newcastle came back from a goal down to gain a point in a 1-1 draw.

Sissoko started the game on the left of midfield, but finished the match at left-back as Rafa Benitez pushed for an equaliser.

The French international has failed to hit top form this season, with his displays provoking criticism from many fans and pundits – and Jenas has added his opinion now too.

He said: “One of the biggest disappointments for me in the derby, and for this whole season in fact, was the form of Moussa Sissoko.

“Last season he was Newcastle’s main man and he was being linked with some very big clubs in the summer. But against Sunderland he just looked totally lost.

“Rafa Benitez needs to find a way to get the Frenchman back to what he was doing last year.”

Former Toon man Jenas, however, was more positive about Aleksandar Mitrovic after his late strike earned Newcastle a draw.

The Magpies had struggled to create too much until the Serbian’s 83rd-minute leveller, and Jenas believes the striker is getting ‘better and better’.

He said in his Yahoo column: “Despite Aleksandar Mitrovic’s dramatic and timely equaliser at St James’s Park, the derby highlighted Newcastle’s familiar problem of a lack of quality in the final third.

“A lot of points have been dropped at home this season due to missed chances and, ultimately, that could be what costs them.

“I actually think Mitrovic is a good player who will get better and better. He’s strong, he’s physical, he holds up the ball well and I also believe he will score goals – but that final part doesn’t quite come naturally to him yet.”