That’s remarkable – These Alexander Isak stats at Newcastle United | OneFootball

Alexander Isak. The last person to score a winning goal in a cup final for Newcastle United. Let that sink in!

He was at it again last night, scoring a barnstormer from outside the box for Sweden against Northern Ireland in the Strawberry Arena.

According to my research, Alexander Isak has played 100 times for Newcastle United since we signed him from Real Sociedad, scoring 58 times, with nine assists. That’s remarkable.

Worth his weight in gold?

Well, probably not as it happens – the price of gold being what it is, I would reckon he would come in at least £120 million more than that.

I’ve read that Isak is highly coveted by sides such as Liverpool and Arsenal. The reaction from some of our fans has amused me. Of course he is. That’s the territory Newcastle United now occupies and winning trophies helps with retention.

At 6-foot-3, Isak’s height could bring about notions of a target man to the unacquainted.

And yet the reality is that Alex is probably the most mobile striker in Europe, both in terms of his general agility and ability to dribble with winger-like co-ordination.

Watching Isak move with the ball, given his physical stature, is joyous. He has a style of forward play not dissimilar to Thierry Henry, who we all know terrorised defenders in the Premier League during the 2000s.

Like the Frenchman, Alexander Isak is most comfortable when he’s on the move and he regularly drifts into the channels, dragging defenders out of position. Isak is skilled enough to beat full-backs and simply too quick for most centre-backs. When he drops deeper to receive the ball, Isak’s accelerations can wreak havoc. That goal against Liverpool in the Premier League at St James Park was a case in point, Alex picking the ball up in midfield and running forwards before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Caoimhin Kelleher.

It’s sometimes said that Alex is weaker in the air and it’s fair to say he maybe wins less than his share of aerial duels. But try telling that to the Arsenal centre back pairing of Gabriel and Saliba, who he’s already terrorised on three occasions this season, his powerful header which won us the game against the Gunners in early November was a real throwback.

To win trophies, you need serial winners.