There are two very different versions of Alexander Isak . Off the field, those inside Newcastle United describe the Sweden striker as being a laid-back individual, someone who rarely shows emotion and is seldom expressive. But, on the pitch, in a competitive environment, few are as demonstrative as Isak.
If he has missed a clear goalscoring chance, he screams in anger — and, if one of his team-mates fails to pass when he is in a prime position, he does not attempt to hide his frustrations. Advertisement Fabian Schar was the latest player to exercise Isak — who, on his 25th birthday, slapped the turf in anger after the Switzerland international shot into the side-netting, rather than square for the striker to tap in against Fulham (shown below) — but the centre-back is far from the only team-mate to provoke such a reaction this season. Newcastle ’s attacking performances have not matched their points haul.
Isak’s dissatisfaction is a byproduct of that; often he has been peripheral, isolated and starved of service. Against Fulham , he had just 25 touches, only three in the opposition box, and two shots, both blocked. For a centre-forward who scored 21 league goals in just 27 starts across 2023-24, had a full summer to rest and then an encouraging pre-season, it was anticipated Isak would start the campaign in rapid and prolific fashion.
Instead, he has only a solitary strike so far this season, two behind Harvey Barnes , who is Newcastle’s leading scorer. Admittedly.