Micah Richards believes ‘top’ Newcastle player has been a brilliant addition

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Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak has been hailed as the ‘perfect signing’ by BBC pundit, Micah Richards and backs him to get better.

Newcastle spared no expense when they shattered their transfer record to bring in then 22-year-old Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad for £63million late in August. But after a brilliant debut against Liverpool, Newcastle fans were then made to wait a long time to see his true potential.

The story goes that Isak was carrying a knock when he arrived at Newcastle and after just three games and two goals in the Premier League that injury flared up and Isak then spent months on the sidelines. Isak then missed 11 Premier League games before returning from injury.

Isak now has 10 goals in just 17 Premier League appearances

Since then, though he’s gone on to rack up 17 appearances and 10 goals in total in the Premier League, grabbing the attention of the footballing world, not just with his goalscoring prowess but also his ability to run with the ball seemingly glued to his feet.

Micah Richards is clearly a big fan and has backed the 6’4″ Sweden international to become a top striker, saying on the BBC Monday Night Club last night: “He came for a lot of money but in terms of what Newcastle needed, young and hungry and willing to show everyone he can do I think it was just the perfect signing and he’ll be a top, top striker as long as he stays fit.”

I may be in the minority, but I’m not really concerned about Isak’s fitness. The thigh problem that kept him out for so long this season isn’t one that has given him any further cause for concern so far, and before that his injury record was fantastic.

Obviously things happen in football and there’s always potential for him to pick up a knock at some point, but generally, I don’t think he’s a risk like, say, Callum Wilson, who we know needs to be wrapped in cotton wool sometimes.

Isak will become a legend at Newcastle over the next couple of years

As for being a “top, top striker”, I think that’s pretty much nailed on. This is a 23-year-old who hasn’t hit his peak yet and has the second best minutes per goal ratio in the league behind Erling Haaland, who as I’ve said many times before, is not human so his stats should carry an asterisk.

Given Newcastle’s upward trajectory and the general feeling that things will only get better for the Magpies, I’m not overly concerned about keeping hold of Isak either. Why would he want to move anywhere else when there’s a good chance he can achieve all of his goals here?

Next season will be the biggest of Isak’s career so far as he has now got up to speed with life in the Premier League, he’ll have a full pre-season with the squad and Eddie Howe and should (fingers crossed) be fit for the entire season. I’m backing Isak to be up there in the scoring charts next season, pushing Haaland all the way.

Isak can go on to be a Newcastle United legend, he’s already well on the way after one season.

I’m not used to all this positivity, I might need a lie down.