Eddie Howe isn't too much of a gambling man. Yes, he rolls the dice with the odd substitution or team selection on occasion but the Newcastle United boss is very rarely panicked into a risky decision. With this in mind, many thought Chris Wood would start against Liverpool this week, with new signing Alexander Isak eased into life on Tyneside.
After all, Howe has previous when it comes to taking his time with new additions and blocking the outside calls to see new signings in action straight away. Bruno Guimaraes was slowly worked into the starting XI after leaving Lyon, while Sven Botman has had to fight for his place at the heart of defence already.
The approach with Isak already looks different. Yes, Callum Wilson is out injured but Wood could easily have been called upon for the tough Merseyside clash, with the Swedish international being given minutes off the bench at the business end of the tie.
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Instead, Howe took a risk with his new £58m man and watched his gamble pay off. A beautifully taken goal in the first-half, was followed by an even better finish after the interval before the offside flag was raised.
It looks like likely Isak will start from the outset whenever fit for Newcastle, with the player's knock at Anfield looking like a minor issue. And Howe is delighted to see his marquee signing is already taking in his instructions at Newcastle.
"His characteristics and his individual skills are there," the Newcastle said on Friday. "What impressed me most was how he took on the information we gave him and implemented that - more off the ball really than on the ball - (as) on the ball he'll always be himself. He's got some great talent."
As well as being introduced to the Premier League on the pitch, the 22-year-old forward has been put in front of the media multiple times since his Real Sociedad exit.
Speaking this week, Isak admitted: "The last week and a half has probably been not normal for the club as well! We've had a lot of games in a short period of time so the training load has been quite low which hasn't been ideal for me as I haven't played for the last week."
When asked about what he hoped to bring to the table, Isak said: "I will try to provide a bit of everything, not only in the box but also in the build up play. I will try to float around and use my qualities."
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