Chris Waugh, The Athletic: Isak one of world’s best strikers | OneFootball

Chris Waugh, Newcastle United correspondent for The Athletic, has labelled Alexander Isak as “one of the hottest strikers in the world” ahead of the Magpies visit to Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday.

The Sweden international, who has scored 25 goals in all competitions this term, has been shortlisted for the 2023/24 Premier League Player of the Season award.

Newcastle are seventh in the Premier League heading into the final game of the season. How would you sum up their campaign?

It has been the clichéd rollercoaster, really, and I would almost split it into four seasons.

The first few weeks of the season were difficult for Newcastle as they had some difficult fixtures, then they picked up from September through until the start of December and were in strong positions in all three competitions: they were fifth in the Premier League, into the Carabao Cup quarter-final and it looked as though they might get through in the Champions League or at least progress into the Europa League.

But an awful December and January period completely affected them, which was largely down to injuries. They have had a ridiculous injury list - “unprecedented” as Eddie Howe has referred to it as - and constantly had double figure numbers of players out across the course of the season. Sandro Tonali’s suspension in October also really hit them hard.

Yet, since early March, Newcastle have come on strong again and, in this last part of the season, they have gone from 10th before the international break back up to sixth, which has put them in a really good position to qualify for Europe again.

If Newcastle were to finish in the top six, or even top seven, with all the trials and tribulations of the season - even though they finished fourth last season - that would represent a very good campaign indeed.

How important is it that they do ensure they qualify for European competition of some kind to keep the momentum building in that sense?

To get into any sort of European competition for Newcastle is massive. Their business plan and their long-term vision is to be in the Champions League every season but, up until then, it is to make sure they are in some form of European competition.

The Europa League and the Europa Conference League do not bring the riches of the Champions League and they do not have the same glitz, but it guarantees extra fixtures and there is an attractiveness to being in those competitions for players who want to play in Europe.

It also offers an opportunity for Newcastle to try and win something. The Champions League - certainly in the short to medium term - is not a realistic goal, but the Conference League definitely is, as is the Europa League, to a certain extent. For a club that has not won anything since 1969, that is massive and the next step of what they need to achieve.

We saw this season that the club and maybe Howe, his players and the management group are not quite ready for Champions League football and, if they can have a season in a lower European competition, that can really prepare them for building towards getting back into the Champions League in future seasons.

Talking of getting to the next level, what do you think Newcastle need to do in the transfer window to improve upon this season?

A lot of the talk going into this summer is about whether Newcastle can keep hold of their best players and, before they make any signings, it is crucial that, if they can keep Bruno Guimarães and Alexander Isak - the two big players who have been linked with moves away - build around them and get Sandro Tonali back from his suspension, they will have a very good core.

What they need to do is add greater depth - and by depth I mean quality players who can really improve the first team and build the level of the squad in general.

They have got a good squad as it is and they have managed to cope, just about, given the injury crisis, but they cannot allow this to go on going forward, so if they can add another forward of some description, a centre-back - because they have two serious injuries to Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman - then maybe another midfielder, that is exactly what they need to increase the general level of the squad.

Which player should Brentford fans keep an eye on?

Alexander Isak, it has to be. Anthony Gordon deserves an honourable mention as well because he has had a wonderful season, as does Bruno Guimarães, who is always impressive when he plays, but Isak is one of the hottest strikers in the world at the moment and his form in 2024 has been phenomenal.

His record is brilliant for Newcastle and he has got a bit of everything: he is an excellent finisher, ice cool, and is showing why the club invested all the money they did in him.

They took a bit of a risk on Isak because a lot of big clubs had looked at him and, for whatever reason, decided against signing him.

He is only 24 so is going to get better and he can play across the front line, he can run in behind, he can drop deep, and his finishing and movement is phenomenal.

How is Eddie Howe likely to set up?

Generally, Howe plays with a 4-3-3 - he has played 4-4-2, but I suspect he will stick with the former.

Isak will play through the middle and Gordon and Miguel Almirón will be either side of him, if the latter is fully fit.

Guimarães and Joelinton will be back in the midfield with Sean Longstaff.

Then, in the back four, Dan Burn will be one of the centre-backs and, if Fabian Schär does not return to fitness, it will be Emil Krafth alongside him, even though he is an out-and-out full-back.

Kieran Trippier should be back by then to play at right-back, with Lewis Hall at left-back and possibly even Nick Pope back in goal, too.

What’s your score prediction?

Newcastle are going to need a positive result on the final day, so I predict they will come away with a 3-1 win.