Alan Shearer asks Alexander Isak if he’d want to take Newcastle United’s number nine shirt

Add as preferred source on Google

Newcastle United superstar Alexander Isak is certainly worthy of the famous number nine, but he currently dons 14.

The 25-year-old has been a goalscoring machine since becoming Newcastle’s most expensive signing ever, with Alexander Isak averaging just over a goal every other game.

But he has done it with the number 14 on his back, which has probably helped Isak be compared to Thierry Henry.

However, the number that matters most to Newcastle United fans is nine. That currently belongs to Callum Wilson, who has certainly been worthy of it when fit. But Isak has overtaken him, and feels likely to be the next player to wear the famous shirt.

It has been reported that Isak is expected to inherit the number from Wilson, whose Toon future is up in the air. The 32-year-old is in the last year of his contract, with Wilson likely to leave this summer.

READ MORE: Who is Alexander Isak? Age, Height, Family, Nationality, Roots

Alan Shearer asks Alexander Isak about the Newcastle United number nine shirt

There could soon be an opportunity for Isak to change his number, and he has been asked about the prospect of becoming Newcastle’s number nine by Alan Shearer during an interview with BBC Sport.

Shearer asked: “Does the number nine shirt not bother you? Would you like that? It wasn’t available either when I signed but I managed to nick it!”

Isak replied: “I’m doing well, I’m happy with number 14. But, on the other hand, I know the number nine is a special shirt for the fans.”

How Alan Shearer became Newcastle United’s number nine

When Isak arrived, the number nine shirt was not available. That is why he opted to take the number 14.

However, the number nine shirt was not available when Alan Shearer signed for Newcastle United either. At the time, it belonged to Les Ferdinand.

• READ MORE: Who is Alan Shearer? Stats, Height, Wife, Daughter, Net Worth

But Shearer asked Ferdinand if he could have it, and he graciously said yes before they started their formidable partnership.

“I grew up in Newcastle supporting and going to St James’ Park, and the number nine is an iconic number for the people of Newcastle United,” Shearer told Planet Football in 2019.

“Jackie Milburn was my dad’s hero, Malcolm McDonald, all these number nines that have had it, and I just felt that if I was going back there I’d love to have that number nine.

“That’s the reason I asked Les, and he kindly said I could have it. It wasn’t a deal-breaker, it wouldn’t have mattered if he’d said no, but he very kindly said yes.”

Shearer certainly did the shirt justice, going on to become Newcastle United’s all-time leading goalscorer with 206 goals.

There is hope that Isak can eventually follow in his footsteps, but only when Callum Wilson’s Newcastle United career comes to an end. That could happen in 2025, which could result in a major change for Isak next season. It will also mean a massive boost in shirt sales!