Newcastle United’s record signing Alexander Isak has a goalscoring stat that’s only bettered by Erling Haaland this season.
The saying ‘goal machine’ was just a metaphorical phrase that was thrown around for players like Alan Shearer who had impressive goalscoring records. Now, however, Erling Haaland has come into the Premier League and in his first season in England it’s hard not to believe that he is a cyborg from the future sent back in time to score goals. Quite why such a thing exists is anyone’s guess, but here we are.
Haaland has 42 goals in 37 appearances so far this season for Manchester City. He’s not normal.
Haaland is a machine but Isak is not human either
But, he’s not the only player to make his way to the Premier League via Borussia Dortmund who has a penchant for finding the net. Newcastle‘s very own Alexander Isak sits behind Haaland in the goals per minute stats with one goal every 105 minutes for Eddie Howe‘s side.
Granted that’s only over 17 games, but that’s not the point. If he is able to continue that kind of ratio over a full season he’d bag 32 goals in the Premier League alone (based on him playing 90 mins per game over a 38 game season). Actually 32.5, so let’s say he has one disallowed for a questionable offside decision like he did earlier this season.
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Even if you take cup games out of the equation, Isak is still second behind Haaland in the Premier League according to FB Ref (only including players with more than 10 appearances).
Isak’s start at Newcastle was blighted by injury, but now he’s back and firing on all cylinders. His last two performances earned him back-to-back player of the match awards from Sky Sports as he bagged three goals in two games. He even laid on the assist for Elliot Anderson‘s goal that was so controversially disallowed at The City Ground on Friday.
Isak is starting to look like a bargain
A £63million signing from Real Sociedad, Isak is starting to look like a bargain, especially when you consider that Eddie Howe is adamant he’s still not at 100% – frightening.
He’s only 23 as well, which means he’s still likely to get better. He does possibly need to work on his strength; for a Premier League striker he is quite slight. When you compare him to the Man City Cyborg who looks like it would be like running into a tree, Isak could definitely do with adding a bit of bulk. Although it’s not held him back so far.
Nick Pope, Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak form the spine of our team, and Eddie Howe’s mission this summer is to add players of equal or better quality around that spine to make a team capable of competing in all competitions next season. Then the season after, with a few more additions, it’ll be time to bring home the league title.