Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith feels the Magpies can now kick on from their slow start to the Premier League season
Newcastle United's Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade
Newcastle United forwards Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade
The Alexander Isak transfer saga may finally be at end, but Newcastle United have already felt the effects of a damaging situation this season.
Eddie Howe was unable to call on the Sweden striker for the first three matches of the Premier League season before he secured his £130m move to Liverpool, with United failing to score in the two goalless draws at Aston Villa and Leeds United.
Anthony Gordon's red card against Liverpool meant the Magpies had to field young striker Will Osula at Elland Road, although Howe will have new signings Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa available when they face Wolves after the international break.
United splashed the cash in the final days of the transfer window bring Woltemade from Stuttgart for a club record fee of £65m, while Wissa finally made the move from Brentford on deadline day for £50m.
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Former Arsenal striker turned Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith feels the Isak situation has hampered Newcastle's start to the season, but insists they need to put it behind them now, with only three games gone.
"It’s the worst possible start to pre-season, and leading up to the season, and the first few games as well, because you could argue that they’ve dropped points because of the Isak situation," the former Arsenal striker told BestBettingSites.co.uk.
"They couldn’t get somebody in before they’d got him out. So, it’s not served them well at all.
"They would be delighted to see an end to the whole Isak situation and get on with things. We saw against Liverpool what a very good team they can be, and if they can get one of those boys to be a proper centre forward for them. Then, again, they can have a really good season."
Newcastle may miss a player of Isak's calibre, but Smith is interested to see what Wissa and Woltemade can bring to Howe's side.
"Do I think Wissa can replace Isak? No, in a word. He’s not on Isak’s level," he added. "They’ve got Woltemade now as well, though. It sounds like he’s a bit more of a 10, slightly withdrawn.
"It just shows you that maybe the lack of centre forwards around is why they paid £55 million for Wissa. He’s a good player, he’s had a good couple of seasons, but before that, not so great.
"We had not really heard of him in the top flight, anyway, so it’s one of those that you’re never gonna get a replacement straight, like for like, quality for quality, when it comes to Isak, so they’ll be hoping he can do well.
"You know, because they’ve made some good signings in general, and with Woltemade, if he can do the business, then they’re not in a bad spot."