MY ACCOUNT
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is facing a dilemma.
The Magpies possess two fantastic frontmen in Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak, with each delivering the goods when called upon in recent weeks.
And the duo combined brilliantly for the Tynesiders’ winner against Brentford last weekend, when paired together in the second half.
There are now calls for both forwards to start in this afternoon’s clash with Aston Villa, as Newcastle continue their charge towards Champions League qualification.
Dependable Wilson
Wilson represents a reliable option for Howe, having been a consistent goalscorer for the Magpies since arriving at St James’ Park in September 2020.
He has scored 10 league goals in this campaign alone, representing a solid return for a player who has often missed out through injury or rotation.
In fact, the 31-year-old has averaged 0.66 goals per 90 minutes of top-flight action, which is only bettered by six other players.
The England international’s output is roughly in line with his 10.32 expected goals (xG), reflecting his clinical nature inside the final third.
Impressive Isak
Injury problems halted Isak’s momentum at the start of this season but the Swedish striker is now starting to show his quality.
The club-record signing has scored eight times across 815 league minutes, which is an even better return than Wilson on a per 90 basis.
Only Erling Haaland (1.235) has a better goals per 90 record than Isak (0.88), reflecting how influential he has been when fit.
It is becoming almost impossible for Howe to leave the 23-year-old out of his starting XI.
Neville’s verdict
Isak is understandably receiving plenty of plaudits after his impressive performances in recent weeks.
And former Premier League star Gary Neville was full of praise for the 39-cap international following Newcastle’s victory over Manchester United earlier this month.
He said: “Isak, I think, is going to be quality. I think he’s more than just a good forward.
“I’m looking for someone who has got more than talent. They’ve got an intelligence to them.
“They’ve got a brain. They think about the game — he wants to do the right things.”
Howe explains
The performances of Isak and Wilson against Manchester United — and a few days later in the 5-1 mauling of West Ham — saw Howe pair the duo together in the second half at Brentford.
Explaining that decision, he said: “The thinking behind getting Alex and Callum together was pretty obvious really. I just think we needed more of a focal point in the game.
“They’re two quality players. Can they play together every week? Tactically, probably not. But can they play together in a game like this? Absolutely.”
That reluctance to play two up front on a regular basis may infuriate some Newcastle supporters, though Howe’s decisions will be beyond reproach for many followers of the high-flying Magpies.
Villa clash
There has certainly been plenty of debate about whether Isak and Wilson could function together against Aston Villa.
The attackers may potentially reprise their roles after the break against Brentford, when Wilson played as the team’s focal point with Isak operating as a No10.
The latter appears to have the creative and technical skills for that position. He did, after all, create seven big chances for Real Sociedad last season — placing him inside LaLiga’s top 25 players for that particular metric.
With Villa having kept a commendable 10 Premier League clean sheets this term, Newcastle may need all of their firepower to come away from Villa Park with three points in the bag.
