In the end, he just stopped jumping for headers man
Pathetic how many challenges he lost today
It's not only that. When he plays the opposition's back line moves forward 10 yards as the only thing we do is boot the ball to him to win; the opposition defenders win the vast majority of the challenges and can move forward as they don't need to worry about him running in behind which gives our midfield less space to play in and pick out passes due to the reduced space in front of the opposition's bank of 4. Gayle counteracts that as defenders are worried about his pace and his runs, some of which he gambles on a la his second at Leeds. Mitrovic doesn't do that.