Alan Shearer absolutely loves Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak.
And it is easy to understand why. Alexander Isak is currently enjoying the best season of his career, and his goals could be what guides Newcastle United back into Europe.
The Magpies are aiming to finish in the top six, and will need a few more goals from the 24-year-old to get them over the line. Isak will be keen to score himself, as he is within touching distance of the Premier League Golden Boot.
He has scored 19 times in the Premier League this season, meaning he is two behind Manchester City star Erling Haaland. That is not a bad place to be, as Isak is now widely recognised as the best striker in the top flight after the Norwegian superstar.
Isak has all the makings of a Newcastle United great, which is something that Alan Shearer knows all about.
He is the Magpies’ record scorer with 206 goals, while he has also scored more than anyone in the history of the Premier League with 260.
Shearer knows what it takes to be an elite goalscorer, and he sees those traits in Isak – a man who has been relentlessly compared to another Premier League legend in Thierry Henry.
In an interview with the Athletic, Shearer has spoke about Isak.
The Newcastle United legend has shared exactly why he loves watched the Sweden international, and explained why he is perfect for the modern game.
“He’s brilliant, I like almost every part of his game,” he said.
“He’s as quick as they come. He showed that against Spurs when apparently Micky van der Ven was one of the quickest defenders around and he left him standing. One v one, at pace, he can beat anybody.
“He’s a modern-day forward. He can play right across the front, he’s a forward rather than a centre-forward.”
Isak embarrassed Van de Ven that day
Isak’s speed is an incredibly dangerous weapon, and it is one of the many assets that make him a sensational forward.
He showed that against Tottenham Hotspur last month, scoring a brace in a 4-0 win for Eddie Howe’s side.
On that day, he was up against Micky van de Ven, the £43million defender who has been hyped up for his speed. Yet he was given the run around by Isak, and was ultimately mocked for his efforts to stop him on social media..
But Van de Ven was not the first defender who Isak has embarrassed, and he will not be the last. Not only is he quick, but he also has incredible skill. He is fast in and out of possession, while he is also absolutely clinical in front of goal.
His first against Sheffield United was a perfect example of his quality. His movement to get in behind was exquisite, and he followed it up with a first time finish that was simply stunning.
Newcastle United fans love Isak, and so does Shearer. And, as he says, the club would be ‘absolutely bonkers’ to sell him this summer, amid interest from Arsenal.