After playing just nine games for Newcastle United, Stan Collymore thinks Eddie Howe will look to replace Alexander Isak.
The 23-year-old has had a tough start to life on Tyneside after his £63million move from Real Sociedad. Isak became Newcastle’s record signing, but has struggled for minutes due to a thigh injury.
He is over that problem now, but missed the draw with West Ham due to concussion. However, he should return for Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth.
The Sweden international has been limited to just nine appearances for his new club, with only four of them coming from the start. He has managed to provide four goal contributions in that time, including a vital assist in the Carabao Cup semi final.
But despite Isak barely playing and doing well when he has featured, Stan Collymore is seemingly not convinced by him.
Stan Collymore unconvinced by Alexander Isak already
In his latest column for Caught Offside, Collymore has stated that Isak is ‘too lean’ and that the Magpies should look to find a new striker if they qualify for Europe.
“I’m not quite sure why Alexander Isak isn’t starting more games,” Collymore wrote.
“Maybe there’s a slight fitness issue there – who knows? But as for him, and Callum Wilson, both of whom are Eddie Howe’s main striking options, I’m not convinced either of them are good enough to lead the Magpies’ attack on their own.
“They both have their own attributes to offer, but I’m just not sure either player is the type to wear the iconic number nine shirt and bag 20-plus goals a season.
“Isak, especially, looks the type who needs to play alongside someone else. I’d like to see him bulk up over the summer too. He looks a little bit too lean at the moment to be a leading lone striker in the notoriously physical league that is the Premier League.
“If Newcastle do qualify for Europe next season, which is looking likely, that would obviously mean they need a bigger squad with multiple options and I don’t think either Wilson or Isak would be Howe’s preferred forward, so should they have a successful campaign this year, I expect them to target another striker ahead of the next one.”
Absolute nonsense
Where to begin? Well, we might as well start at the start. The reason Isak hasn’t been starting games is because he has only just returned from a muscle injury, and Eddie Howe has no reason to change a winning team. That is why Callum Wilson is starting ahead of him.
Collymore’s criticism of Wilson is strange, as the 30-year-old has done a brilliant job of leading the line since his £20million arrival in 2020. But what is more strange is his assessment of Isak – someone who is still in the infancy of his Toon career.
While he does look lean on appearance, he has certainly handled the rigours of English football so far. He does not appear to be overawed by the physicality, and has been able to hold his own.
Collymore clearly doesn’t understand the club’s recruitment policy if he does not think Isak would be Howe’s preferred choice in the future. That is the exact reason he was brought to the club in the first place!
Newcastle may well target a new striker in the summer, but it is surely going to be someone very young with the future in mind. Wilson should be at his peak right now, while Isak is only going to get better – and the early signs are very promising despite what Collymore thinks.
Having played just nine games for the Magpies, it is way too early to properly judge Isak, let alone write him off completely. It is absolute nonsense from Collymore.
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