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Move over Isak: Howe has hit the jackpot on Newcastle star who's been "Shearer-like" - opinion

Give them a statue, all of them. In fact, carve a sculpture of the team, as one, jubilant and elated and all the rest after defeating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final and putting Newcastle United's name, well and truly, on the map.

Newcastle ended a 70-year domestic trophy drought at the weekend, if you didn't know, with Eddie Howe and his squad now immortalised for bringing a city back to its former greatness.

This is a team of many parts, and the sum of those parts is indeed greater still, but Alexander Isak is undoubtedly the cream of the crop, on the scoresheet at Wembley. Of course he was.

Alexander Isak's greatness

When Isak joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad for a club-record £63m fee in 2022, it was a jaw-dropping outlay for a talented young forward. But would it work out?

Newcastle United's Alexander Isak celebrates scoring their second goal

Magpies all over will issue an emphatic affirmative in unison. Isak is not only "the best striker in the Premier League," spoken by Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher, but a harbinger of silverware, his second-half goal all but sealing Newcastle's victory over Arne Slot's Reds.

It was his 23rd strike of the season and another illustration of the quality that has changed things for the better on Tyneside. Isak is a Newcastle legend, plain and simple.

No wonder he's coveted by almost every high-profile side on the continent. Newcastle are well within their rights to demand in excess of £150m for their talisman, who is contracted until 2028.

He's not the only signing Howe has struck gold on. Another Newcastle star was hailed for his "Shearer-like" performance against Liverpool.

You may be able to guess who.

Howe's hit the jackpot on "Shearer-like" star

Newcastle have won a trophy, sending London into a euphoric frenzy, trailing black and white all the way back to Tyneside.

Isak bagged the second, sealing the deal, but it was Dan Burn's thumping header that rewarded United's first-half dominance, and offering shades of Shearer at that.

alan-shearer-newcastle-united-premier-league-boxing-day

Aged 32, the 6 foot 7 defender is still going strong, 139 appearances under Howe's wing making him the gaffer's third-most-used Newcastle player.

And to think he was signed from Brighton & Hove Albion for a smart £13m fee in January 2022, one of the first to be picked by Howe as part of his Newcastle project.

All his hard graft came to a head at Wembley, with Burn's contributions at both ends of the field leaving The Guardian waxing lyrical, handing him a 9/10 match rating after using his physicality to shackle the under-par Mohamed Salah.

Dan Burn's Performance at Wembley

Match Stats

Minutes played

Goals

Touches

Shots (on target)

Accurate passes

Key passes

Tackles + interceptions

Clearances

Duels won

Dribbled past

Stats via Sofascore

Burn's leaping goal was even described as being "Shearer-like" by Gary Neville on co-comms. Honestly, what a moment on the biggest stage. Caoimhin Kelleher between the sticks simply couldn't get near it.

Carabao Cup final player ratings

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

That £13m fee looks like more of a bargain every day. What a signing. Burn has written his name into Magpies lore, scribbled in indelible ink.

He might be worth peanuts on the market, but Newcastle have well and truly hit the jackpot on Big Dan Burn.

Dan-Burn

Burn grew up admiring Shearer, and while he hasn't played out a career in a similar vein to the legendary goalscorer, his towering header was reminiscent of 'Smokey' in his heyday, all leap and precision.

What a signing he's been.

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