Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink eulogised goal hero Alexander Isak following Newcastle United’s 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Debates had raged all week in the build-up to the clash about where the Swede should fit in.
Previous substitute appearances whet the Toon supporters’ appetite and Isak did not disappoint when called upon. A brilliant first-half header reminiscent of Wyn Davies, Les Ferdinand, Alan Shearer or Andy Carroll broke the deadlock and eased the tension around St James’ Park.
Not only that, his all-round play and electric pace pierced a thorn in Wolves’ side all afternoon before his withdrawal on 68 minutes. Eddie Howe told reporters at his pre-match press conference Isak was not capable of playing a full game and, as a man of his word, subbed the striker for Callum Wilson.
READ MORE: Newcastle United 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Champions League bid firmly in Toon hands
Former Chelsea hitman Hasselbaink was left stunned by the 23-year-old’s impact against Wolves. He told Sky Sports: “He does (give them a different dimension). He’s a brilliant footballer and how he’s taken this goal, this is a goalscorer’s goal. You can see he’s comfortable with this chance, he’s in control.
“Technically this (the header) is top. Bang, Jose Sa has got absolutely no chance. All his game today was really sharp - running with the ball, running at defenders, making it very difficult for defenders getting behind them, and getting a yard so that he could shoot.
“He could have scored two goals today but there was a good block as well. He is giving them something different, he is different from Wilson. Wilson wants to be more on the end of things, he wants to play more of the combinations and also get on the end of things.”
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