Arsenal legend Ian Wright has heaped praise on the "impressive" Alexander Isak as he backed Newcastle United to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Eddie Howe's side will return to domestic action after the international break on April 2 where they will host Manchester United at St James' Park. Newcastle have temporarily paused their top-four push as they find themselves just two points off Tottenham in fourth, with two games in hand on the North London team above them.
Friday night's breathless 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest sent the Tyneside club into the top-flight hiatus on a high as Isak scored a sublime volley in the first-half, securing the win with a stoppage-time penalty in the second.
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And Wright has now singled out the Swede for praise as the former Arsenal man waxed lyrical over the Newcastle forward while insisting that the Magpies are the team to beat right now amid their push for a place in the top four come May.
"Beautiful finish," he told his podcast Wrighty's House when asked about Isak's first goal against Forest. "For his size, he's got attributes of somebody that's 5ft 7", even the way he adjusts his body to put [away] that volley for the first goal. The way he takes people on, his link-up play is really quite impressive.
"I think Newcastle are the form team," he added. "Obviously Arsenal are doing what they're doing up there but in respect of getting into fourth and doing what they [Newcastle] do. Newcastle now, they can nick a couple of goals and with their defensive record and how good [Nick] Pope is playing, Newcastle can get into the top four."
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