Eddie Howe shocked Newcastle United fans when he started Callum Wilson over Alexander Isak against Manchester City, and that needs to change this weekend.
Newcastle take on Wolves on Sunday, and there is a growing sense that it is now time for Howe to replace Wilson with the club’s record signing Isak.
The Magpies’ number nine came under scrutiny following the Carabao Cup final. The 31-year-old was disappointing at Wembley and barely got a sniff of goal. Shay Given summed it up perfectly, who believed Wilson was ‘quiet‘ against Manchester United.
In contrast, Isak was lively when he came on in the cup final. His speed and dynamism caused Man United real problems, and it led to calls for him to start at the Etihad.
However, Howe stuck by his main man up front. But it was a decision that backfired. Wilson had Newcastle’s best chance against Manchester City, but he squandered it in embarrassing fashion.
He is bang out of form, and it is now time for Howe to turn to the £63million superstar who can do so much more than just warm the bench.
Time for Eddie Howe to start Alexander Isak over Callum Wilson
Since the World Cup, Wilson has not been the same player. He has only scored one goal, and has struggled to hit the heights that took him to Qatar before Christmas.
And while Wilson has struggled, Isak has battled back to full fitness. He is over his thigh injury, and is merely waiting for his chance to be a regular starter for Howe.
That needs to happen now. Newcastle are seriously struggling in attack at the minute. We either struggle to create chances or fail to convert them. It is time for a change up top, and Isak can offer something different to Wilson.
The 23-year-old is much quicker and can stretch defences, while his rangy running style makes him a real handful for opponents. And we’ve seen his goalscoring touch too, with three goals in Toon colours so far.
It has been a ‘stop start’ beginning to Isak’s Newcastle career, but the potential is there for all to see. Now is the time for Howe to unleash him, starting against Wolves on Sunday.
Wilson is out of form and needs to be taken out of the firing line. And a direct replacement is waiting desperately to be given a chance. It needs to come this weekend.