Alexander Isak has taken the Premier League by storm in a Newcastle United shirt, much to the surprise of Ben Foster.
It has been a debut season to remember for Isak, who has shaken off injury woes to play a major part in Newcastle‘s bid to qualify for the Champions League.
It was a tough first few months on Tyneside for the forward, who had to contest with a lengthy injury shortly after his club record £63million transfer.
He scored two goals in his first three appearances but split opinion at the start of his Newcastle career. However, he has really shown everyone what he is all about in the second half of the season.
The Sweden international has scored 10 goals and provided one assist, although it should really be two after his outrageous run led to Jacob Murphy finding the net in the 4-1 win over Everton.
Isak has been brilliant, and his performances have resulted in him being nominated for Premier League Young Player of the Season. He is up against Bukayo Saka, Erling Haaland, Moises Caicedo, Gabriel Martinelli, his teammate Sven Botman, Martin Odegaard and Alexis Mac Allister.
It will be astonishing if Isak comes out on top, but the forward has done enough to prove former Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster wrong, who thinks the man likened to Thierry Henry is going to be even better next season.
Ben Foster admits he was wrong about Alexander Isak
Speaking on the Premier League’s YouTube channel, Foster explained why he was unsure about Isak when he first signed for Newcastle.
“When I saw him physically, I just thought ‘I don’t know if you’re going to be up to the physicality of the Premier League’,” he said.
“You look at someone like Haaland, you can tell he’s big, broad, stocky, wants to mix it a little bit. I just thought I don’t know if you’re going to be able to mix it in the Premier League.
“He’s took it by storm. To get a double digit return in terms of goals in his first season, for such a young lad, 23-years-old, it’s been fantastic.
“In the second half of the season, we’ve really got to see what he’s about. Next season I’m pretty sure we are going to see a different player completely again.”
Next season could be special
As Foster says, Isak should be even better next season. He has settled into the Premier League really well already, but can become one of its best strikers when he is fully adapted.
A proper pre-season with Newcastle will help him, as he has always been playing catch up with his fitness ever since arriving.
Seeing Isak join for £63million was a shock in August. It looked like an insane amount of money for a player who had a lot of potential, but was on the back of a difficult season in Spain.
But Toon officials saw something in Isak, and have been proven right already. Foster is happy to admit he was wrong about Newcastle’s number 14, and we are just as excited as he is about what the future holds for our striker from Sweden.
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