John Gibson has backed Alexander Isak to thrive on his second home outing for Newcastle United while speaking on the Everything is Black and White podcast.
It was a dream debut for Isak when he rocked up at Anfield, scored to put the Magpies ahead and then almost doubled his tally, only to be fractionally flagged offside by the linesman, correctly though nonetheless.
However, a few days at St James’ Park as he bore down on goal in front of the Gallowgate End, Isak could only dink the ball straight at Vicenta Guaita and thus, that is how his home debut will forever be remembered.
Gibson though has backed Isak to turn things around against Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.
(9:50) “At home, he’ll want to perform the way he did at Liverpool, I’m not saying he was poor as you said against Palace, he wasn’t, but he’ll be disappointed that he didn’t get that goal, which would have won the game for us and we needn’t have been all upset about VAR.
Will Isak score vs Bournemouth?
Yes!
No!
“He’ll want to put in a performance and as you say, if you look at their goals against record [Bournemouth] even when they won their last game at Forest they let in two, managed to score three, they concede goals by the bucket full and this is a match for Isak to go out and score.”
TIF Thoughts on Isak’s time at Newcastle…
Isak will no doubt know that his starting spot through the middle is far from secure in the long-term because of Eddie Howe’s liking towards Callum Wilson but also because the striker has never let the Magpies down averaging more than a goal every other start in the Premier League with 22 strikes in 42 starts.
Therefore, impressing against the league’s worst defence as things stand, Isak simply has to step up and perform in front of a packed-out St James’ Park, otherwise, some may be questioning the hefty price tag Newcastle were forced to pay.
Despite his huge miss vs Crystal Palace, Isak has seemingly done enough to earn high praise from a great striker of years gone by in the form of Gary Lineker who labelled him as ‘exceptional‘ after turning out for the Sweden national side.