Shaka Hislop now thinks Newcastle United have a real ‘issue’ with Alexander Isak after beating Wolves

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Newcastle United completed an impressive comeback win against Wolves without Alexander Isak.

The Magpies came from behind to win 2-1 at Molineux, with Harvey Barnes scoring an incredible winner.

His effort from distance completed an impressive comeback for Newcastle United, after he had been brought on at half time to replace Alexander Isak.

The 24-year-old had been struck by the ball in the dying stages of the first half, resulting in Isak having a problem with his vision. It was a blow to lose him, and Eddie Howe is hopeful that Isak’s injury is not serious.

While Isak’s departure inadvertently resulted in Newcastle winning against Wolves, his early exit certainly hindered the Magpies.

Anthony Gordon went up front in place of Isak, and did not look as comfortable as he has in the past.

Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak is questioned

And former Newcastle United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has suggested that Howe’s side failed to adapt to not having a proper centre-forward during the second half against Wolves.

Speaking to ESPN’s YouTube channel, Hislop also noted that Isak seems to have a problem with his fitness, after enduring a few injury issues during his Newcastle United career.

“Alexander Isak having to come off injured effected Newcastle,” he said.

“He is such an important piece, but injury seems to be an issue with him.

“I thought Newcastle really struggled to adjust to not having a [focal] point man.”

Isak fitness criticism is very harsh

During his first season as a Newcastle United player, Isak missed a large chunk of football with a thigh injury.

Season two was slightly disrupted as well, with the Sweden international suffering from a recurring hamstring problem. However, he was still fit enough to make 40 appearances and scored 25 goals.

Now to this season, and the second half against Wolves is the only bit of domestic football he has missed. Up until that problem with his vision, Isak had played every single minute of Newcastle’s season.

And to suggest he has an ‘issue’ with injuries after an incident like the one at Molineux is incredibly harsh. He got struck in the face with the ball and was struggling to see. It is not as if he picked up another niggling muscle problem.

Hislop’s suggestion is quite unfair, although he is correct that Newcastle did struggle to adapt during the second half when Isak was not on the pitch.

Fortunately, two strikes from distance saved Eddie Howe’s side, with Fabian Schar and Harvey Barnes turning the game around. Nick Pope was also very impressive for Newcastle, and his saves were just as important as the goals.