Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has raised some brutal home truths for struggling ex-Magpies striker Alexander Isak
Alan Shearer has blasted Alexander Isak's decision to miss Newcastle United's pre-season.
Alan Shearer has blasted Alexander Isak's decision to miss Newcastle United's pre-season.
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Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer says Alexander Isak is a shadow of the striker he was at St. James' Park after his summer switch to Liverpool.
There had been hope the Magpies would be able to retain the services of their talismanic striker, but things turned sour when Isak went on strike in order to push through a move to the Premier League champions.
However, he's scored just once since his move to Anfield, a goal in the Carabao Cup win over Southampton, and has struggled to make an impact.
Isak's Liverpool side, who are just two places above Newcastle in the Premier League, are also in the midst of a crisis with nine defeats in their last 12 matches.
Speaking to Betfair, Shearer said: "Alexander Isak didn’t have a pre-season, he didn’t train or play and that’s catching up with him. He hasn’t played for Sweden in the qualifiers, hasn’t really kicked a ball for Liverpool.
"Perhaps he’ll look back and think he should have trained, but whatever the reasons, fitness, confidence, or other factors, he’s a shadow of the Newcastle player he was."
The Swedish striker missed the pre-season clash with Celtic as Eddie Howe left Isak on Tyneside as he nursed a minor injury.
However, things would take a turn when the 26-year-old would skip the club's pre-season tour of Asia in an attempt to force through a move to Anfield.
Alexander Isak walks on
Isak has failed to make much of a mark at Anfield
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Newcastle were reluctant to cash in on their star striker, who scored 62 goals and notched 11 assists in 109 appearances in black and white.
However, Liverpool smashed the British transfer record and paid £125million for Isak's services and finally got their man.
Nevertheless, it's Newcastle fans who have had the last laugh with one of his replacements, Nick Woltemade, hitting the ground running.
The German international has six goals in 16 appearances for the Magpies, though he has not scored since last month.
Howe will be hoping he can call upon another of Isak's replacements heading into the festive period, with Yoane Wissa continuing his recovery.
The DR Congo international is yet to feature for the Toon since his move from Brentford.