Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe should stick to playing with just one striker up-front despite calls from some fans to start with both Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson. The pair have yet to start a game together for United but them have scored seven in the last four games between them, and when one has been introduced from the bench to play either alongside or just behind the other, the performance has been impressive.
This has led to the question of whether the pair will finally be named in the same starting XI as Newcastle chase down a top-four finish. For our Newcastle United editor, Aaron Stokes, the feeling is that now is not the right time to start both from the first whistle.
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Speaking on The Everything is Black and White Podcast, Stokes said: "It's such a good Plan B to have for Newcastle - starting with either one of the strikers up top and then having the option to actually bring them on and knowing that it's not going to be to the detriment of the team at all.
"There have been lots of calls from them to start together but for me, I don't want to see it from the start. It's such a good option to have from the bench but this system Howe has got with the three in midfield, the two out wide, and the striker - it works. It really, really works at home and Howe drills the players and every single one knows their role - so if ain't broke, don't fix it.
"Yes, you can say Newcastle have looked really good when the two of them play together. We've seen it earlier in the season with one coming on and Isak playing deeper. We saw it in the cup final and against Fulham where they combined for the winner but I just think having that option in the second half when you're either chasing a game or you need something a bit different, that's the time to utilise it.
"If Newcastle start doing it from the start, you sort of lose that Plan B a little bit. I'm really, really pleased to see it work and I love the two of them together. It's a really good partnership, but I just don't subscribe to the notion that Eddie Howe needs to try it from the start.
"They're still winning games but now they've got two good options in attack and it doesn't matter whether you start one or the other."
The interest in Wilson and Isak was strengthened further after Howe's half-time substitutions against Brentford. After a poor showing at The Gtech Community Stadium, Howe introduced Wilson - and the Toon no.9 changed the dynamic of the game. His introduction allowed Isak - who had started the game - more freedom and United turned a one-nil deficit into a 2-1 victory with the Swedish international scoring the winner.
After the game, Howe was asked about the potential of playing Wilson and Isak together, and said: "I think they can play together in the right circumstances for the team. We don't want to force it and the team suffers, we want it to be to the benefit of the team. Against Brentford was the right time and they caused them no end of problems."
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