Newcastle United's Alexander Isak is denied by Brentford's Mark Flekken
Newcastle United's Alexander Isak is denied by Brentford's Mark Flekken
There are few players to have graced a Newcastle United shirt who can claim to share the same abilities as Alexander Isak. The Swedish frontman has just about every asset you could wish for in an attacking footballer.
He's got pace, skill, intelligence, a lethal shot and the ability to keep his head when the pressure is on. The fact the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal and Liverpool have been linked with a £100m-plus transfer move for the striker tells you all you need to know about his calibre.
So why do nagging doubts remain over whether he's the right man to lead the line for Eddie Howe's side? Make no mistake, he should be one of the first names on the teamsheet. United need players of his quality on the pitch - more of them ideally - but where he plays is still something of a dilemma for me at least.
Sure, you can point to the stunning strike which put Newcastle into the lead against Liverpool. Isak took Bruno Guimaraes' pass, wrong-footed Virgil van Dijk no less, then released a thunderbolt which Caoimhin Kelleher barely saw until he was picking it out the back of the net.
But you can also point to a series of misses which have cost United on several occasions this season. That moment at Brentford on Saturday stands out, but it's not the first time this Isak has been guilty of passing up a glorious chance after doing the hard work.
At the Gtech Stadium last weekend, he did brilliantly well to win possession on the touchline, before advancing into the box and leaving Bees keeper Mark Flekken sprawlng as his glided past him. But with the goal at his mercy, Isak took an eternity to sort his feet out, allowing Flekken to make a desperate, ball-winning lunge.
Minutes later, United were 2-1 behind. Yes, it was a Harvey Barnes mistake, yes the defence backed off instead of closing down Yoan Wissa, but they are the margins you have to deal with in the Premier League.
Of course strikers should not be afraid to miss. The very best have all passed up gilt-edged opportunities but must shrug it off and take the next one. Isak's record is excellent, and his goal at Brentford - reacting well to head home a cross from Jacob Murphy - was his seventh of the season.
He scored 25 goals in all competitions for Newcastle last season, and currently stands on 42 from just 82 appearances for the club. So what's the problem?
That miss against Brentford was not the first of its kind. Isak was lucky his decision not to pass to Harvey Barnes when through on goal against Spurs was not costly, he failed to pick out Joelinton unmarked in the defeat at Chelsea and he inexplicably didn't shoot against Liverpool after weaving his way into the box, instead passing to a non-existent team-mate in the six-yard box.
I repeat, Isak should always be one of the first names Eddie Howe writes down on his teamsheet - but he and United would be better off with a No 9 alongside him. That would allow him to drift along the frontline, finding those pockets he is so brilliant at exploiting.