Alexander Isak continues to struggle for fitness and he’s being brutally honest about it, with his latest comments surely giving Newcastle United food for thought.
The big transfer story of the summer in the Premier League was Alexander Isak’s record-breaking move to Liverpool from Newcastle United.
His £125m transfer may have helped Newcastle balance the books, and then some, but the void he left behind is a big one. While Nick Woltemade has helped ease the pain somewhat, Magpies fans are naturally distraught at losing their star man.
In a weekend where Amanda Staveley praised Isak despite the nature of his departure, it’s interesting to see the striker talking about his struggles at Liverpool due to fitness concerns.
Alexander Isak is frustrated by fitness issues
Speaking to Aftonbladet after Sweden’s massive 4-1 defeat to Switzerland on Saturday, in which he picked up 30 minutes of action, Isak was clearly relieved to get on the pitch and gain some match sharpness after a stuttering start to life at Liverpool.
He said: “I feel like the reaction was good after the match in my body. Hopefully I can play properly in the next match [against Slovenia on Tuesday]. It’s always frustrating when you’re injured. Regardless of whether it’s one match or more. It’s always worse for the player himself.
“It hasn’t been optimal. But when I’m on the field, I don’t give myself any excuses. I always want to play my game and perform. But yes, it’s hard to be away and not be able to help and contribute.
“Now I’m back and I’m positive. There’s not much that’s easy in football. But with experience you learn to deal with things. That’s how it is with injuries and all that. You learn to deal with it and get back on track the right way.”
Ironically, Eddie Howe thought Isak didn’t need surgery for a groin issue back in the summer. Still, the Swedish marksman has struggled for fitness all season and has missed the last five games for Liverpool.
He may be on his way back after that cameo for his country, but Newcastle will be more than a little relieved that they now have a fully fit striker leading their line in Nick Woltemade.
- READ MORE: How the Germany players reacted to Nick Woltemade joining Newcastle United speaks volumes
Replacing Alexander Isak was never going to be easy
Isak has just one goal in eight games (and 429 minutes) so far this season. That’s a stark contrast to his form for Newcastle over the last couple of years, and puts him far behind the Magpies’ new man, Woltemade.
The German striker has six goals in 14 games (and 978 minutes). A goal every 163 minutes is good going, especially for a forward just arriving in England, and is all the more impressive when you look at the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres as new strikers in the league.
With Woltemade delivering the goals, and Anthony Gordon the new poster boy for Newcastle, the Tyneside outfit have moved on from Isak pretty quickly and effectively.
There are still attacking issues for the Magpies, with a lack of creativity evident. But, with Yoane Wissa still to come back, that could all be solved with a simple system change. Either way, Newcastle have arguably not suffered anywhere near as much as they feared they might in the wake of Isak’s exit.
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