Newcastle United

Newcastle United: Craig Hope on Alexander Isak’s current role under Eddie Howe

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Image for Newcastle United: Craig Hope on Alexander Isak’s current role under Eddie Howe

Craig Hope has been speaking on Instagram about Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and his unclear role under Eddie Howe.

Newcastle fans were buoyed come the end of the transfer window having seen PIF smash the cub’s transfer record by bringing in Isak from Real Sociedad and with two goals in his three appearances, it’s been a solid start on paper.

However, it hasn’t exactly panned out that way for the Sweden international who’s actually only managed 58 touches in his three appearances and completed just 21 passes which show he’s being somewhat isolated as things stand.

Hope has admitted that Howe must find a way to best utilise his star striker, something he’s yet to do.

(5:49) “When Wilson returns Isak will benefit because Callum Wilson will take the burden of being that number nine, that striker that’s asked to play with his back to goal, Isak can buzz around him and use his qualities to better effect.

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“I’ve written my Monday piece for the Daily Mail around this, Newcastle have got a bit of a problem at the moment, they paid £60 million for Alexander Isak, a club record, and on the evidence of the last two [games] I don’t think they’ve worked out a way yet of how to get the very best out of him.”

TIF Thoughts on Isak’s time at Newcastle…

Things may well have been very different for Newcastle and Isak had he arrived with Callum Wilson fit and continuing his great start to the season with two goals in three league starts as Howe may well have been able to let Isak get minutes off the bench and integrate into the side.

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However, he was instead thrown immediately into the starting lineup away to Liverpool in a game he thrived netting twice, although only one ended up standing, but since then, he’s failed to impress massively.

Once Wilson does return in the next few weeks, Howe may look to unleash Isak more on the right-hand side of a front three to take the pressure off of him and also to ensure he’s not marked as closely as through the middle, so Wilson’s return will likely be good for both strikers.

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