Alexander Isak has 17 Premier League goals. (Image: Getty)
might have held on to during the latest transfer window, but the reality is that the Swedish striker also signifies their biggest problem. Despite speculation linking Isak to , the big-money bid needed to take him away from St James’ Park never materialised.
From a point of view, it is just as well. Isak has 17 goals in 21 games this season, with only and ahead of him in the charts.
A marker of how important the 25-year-old’s finishing is to his club in this campaign, Anthony Gordon is their next top league scorer with six.
However, assessing Isak’s form will leave as anxious as he is impressed. The forward has reportedly told club chiefs he wants football to remain on Tyneside beyond this summer, an ambition he himself is critical to.
With no backup striker signed in this window, an injury to Isak would almost certainly derail ’s top-four ambitions. And a glimpse at the potential makeshift options, if he is ruled out, makes for telling reading.
Callum Wilson’s persistent injury issues have rendered him a forgotten man amongst the Toon Army, with a departure when his contract expires this summer appearing inevitable. He’s managed just four club appearances in this campaign, failing to score in any of them.
William Osula has just one goal this season. (Image: Getty)
Howe and co did splash out on Denmark under-21 forward William Osula from Sheffield United last August. The initial £10million fee, potentially rising to £15m, at least indicated a signing that the club believed boasted potential.
But with Osula, it remains just that, potential. He’s thus far failed to persuade his manager he’s worthy of regular game time, managing just 12 appearances of his own – the majority of which have been cameo roles.
He did score his maiden goal for the club last month, but Isak will hardly be sweating on a starting role. It came in a third-round FA Cup win over Bromley, a side currently lying 16th in .
Isak is currently contracted with until 2028, and fans are already trepidatious over the lack of negotiations for a new deal. But in the short term, keeping the marquee player fit and on the pitch outweighs the importance of him putting pen to paper.
Howe will be aware that he has a game of a No.9 within his ranks. He will be equally aware that an injury problem for that same No.9 could debilitate his attempts to take the club where he wants them to be.