Newcastle went into the international break having injected new life into their challenge for Champions League football.
Two consecutive wins took Eddie Howe’s side to within two points of the top four with a game in hand on Tottenham, raising fresh hope of a grandstand finish to the campaign.
While there have been a number of standout players this season, the renewed sense of hope is thanks in large part to Alexander Isak.
The Swedish forward scored three goals in two games before the break, bagging a brace at Nottingham Forest as Howe’s side came from behind.
Six goals in seven Premier League starts is a fantastic start to his time in England and that kind of form is keeping Callum Wilson out of the team.
Eddie Howe backs Callum Wilson to push Alexander Isak all the way
Wilson’s struggles since the World Cup are well-documented. Having pushed himself so hard to make England’s squad for Qatar, the 31-year-old has only scored once since returning from the tournament and was dropped before the break.
Still, speaking to The Chronicle, Howe has backed the former Bournemouth striker to get back to form.
“Callum’s a top professional,” he said.
“And he is driven more than anybody that I’ve ever worked with, so he will see Alex performing as he has done and he’ll be delighted for Alex and the team. But it’ll only make his resolve even stronger to fight for that place.”
Wilson faces an almighty task
While it’s nice to hear Wilson will be delighted for Isak, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which he comes back into the team.
Newcastle have little margin for error during what remains of the season and the Sweden international is hardly giving Howe much reason to rotate him. After all, he’s already scored two late winners this season (the only player in the League to do so) and is the forward leading the charge in the final few games.
Sadly for Wilson, there seems little chance of getting a look in for a while.