The Magpies are absolutely flying, and if their prolific No.14 can keep up his scintillating form then major silverware is a realistic goal
Just over a month ago, Newcastle looked in real danger of being dragged into a relegation battle, and serious questions were being asked over Eddie Howe's position in the dugout. After a chastening 4-2 loss at Brentford on December 7, the Magpies dropped to 12th in the table, having only won two of their previous 11 Premier League games.
Howe apologised to the visiting fans at the Gtech Community Stadium, before pledging "we will always work as hard as we can to put it right". Since then, Newcastle have delivered on the manager's promise in spectacular fashion.
They are now on a nine-match winning streak in all competitions, the joint-best run in the club's entire history, with 20 goals scored and only two conceded. Suddenly, Champions League qualification is in Newcastle's hands again, and they have one foot in the Carabao Cup final.
A charge for the Premier League title should not be ruled out either. Newcastle look capable of blowing away any team that's put in front of them, and it's time for Howe and his resurgent Magpies to start aiming for the very top, especially with ruthless Swedish frontman Alexander Isak leading their charge.
GettyUnderwhelming start
The 2023-24 campaign was a huge disappointment for Newcastle. Howe had guided the club back into the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, but his team crashed out in the group stage, and ended up finishing seventh in the Premier League. Because of Manchester United's miraculous FA Cup triumph, that wasn't quite enough for Newcastle to secure another year of European football.
There were no big summer signings to bring a feeling of optimism back to the St James' Park faithful either. Making Lewis Hall's loan move from Chelsea permanent was the only significant piece of business Howe conducted, and it was no surprise when Newcastle made such an underwhelming start to the new season.
But there were enough positive signs to keep the wolves from Howe's door. The Magpies recorded impressive home wins over Tottenham and Arsenal, while also battling to draws against Liverpool and Man City; it was just their away form that was preventing any real progress.
But with a few small tactical tweaks, Howe has fixed that dynamic, and Isak has been the biggest beneficiary.
AdvertisementGetty Images'The complete striker'
Heading into a clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on October 27, Isak had just one Premier League goal to his name from six appearances, and seemed to be struggling for rhythm. But he found the target in the 2-1 defeat against the Blues, which seemed to snap him back into life.
That was the first of 14 goals he has scored in his last 13 league outings, and Isak was on the scoresheet for the eighth game in a row on Wednesday as he hit a brace in the 3-0 win over Wolves, breaking a club record he previously shared with Alan Shearer and Joe Willock.
Isak is now only three games away from equalling Jamie Vardy's historic 11-game scoring streak for Leicester City back in 2015, and only a fool would bet against him. On current form, the Sweden international has a strong case for the title of best centre-forward in Europe.
That's not just because of his prolific strike-rate either. Isak also set up Anthony Gordon to round off the scoring against Wolves, bringing his tally of assists to five this term, and his work off the ball has been essential to Newcastle's improvement as a collective.
"He is the complete striker," Newcastle legend Shearer said on . "He is in red-hot form. No-one can stop him. He has got this belief and confidence and there is no doubt that he has the ability. He does his bit defensively, which he has to do in that Newcastle team. Everything about his game is great. He is just so tough to mark."
Getty Images SportPlaying to Isak's strengths
Isak scored 31 goals across his first two seasons at Newcastle, proving himself as a top Premier League marksman, but he's taken his game to even greater heights over the last three months. That's mainly because the Magpies are playing to his strengths by firing balls into the box far more frequently. Since the Chelsea game, nine of Isak's goals have come from crosses, while his strike in a 3-1 win at Nottingham Forest was generated from a corner.
Isak has a knack for timing runs into the box and his predatory instincts are second to none. Indeed, only one of his 15 Premier League goals this season have come outside the penalty area, his 20-yard screamer against Liverpool on December 5, and that's because Newcastle are exploiting the full width of the pitch. The likes of Gordon and Jacob Murphy are now looking to drive towards the byline and deliver crosses at every opportunity, knowing full well that Isak will be there to finish.
The Swede's powers of anticipation are superb, and at the towering height of six-foot-four, he's a match for any defender in the air. "Alex is a world-class talent. He has unique skills, and the challenge is to get him into the game as much as we can," Howe said after seeing Isak hit a hat-trick in Newcastle's 4-0 win at Ipswich last month. "Earlier in the season we weren't doing that, but now the team are performing much better."
Getty/GOAL'This generation's Henry'
Some teams have been able to limit Newcastle's effectiveness from the flanks, but Isak is talented and confident enough to create chances for himself in the tighter matches. He's got more to his game than a pure goal-scorer like Erling Haaland, who rarely gets involved in Man City's build-up play; Isak will drop deep or drift wide to get on the ball when he's being starved of service.
The former Real Sociedad star has remarkably quick feet for a big man, his link-up play is excellent, and it's impossible to knock him off the ball when he's in full flow. Isak's powerful yet elegant style of play has even seen him draw regular comparisons to another of the Premier League's greatest No.14s, Thierry Henry, and one of the Arsenal icon's former team-mates believes they are fully justified.
"He is comfortable everywhere on the pitch. The ability to rotate positions and occupy every role in a frontline is part of what makes him a constant threat. For me he is the closest thing we have seen to another Thierry Henry," ex-Arsenal winger Theo Walcott told in November. "Henry started out wide, so he knew that role very well, and Isak's pace and strength means he is excellent in those areas too. I would say he is this generation’s Henry."