SUNDAY’S game at St James’ Park was billed as a tense contest between two top-four hopefuls but what actually materialised was a one-sided demolition job.
Newcastle were 3-0 up on Tottenham within nine minutes and 5-0 up within 22 minutes.
The final result was 6-1 but the game was decided during the opening exchanges as the visitors pathetically crumbled amid a Geordie cauldron of noise.
Naturally, many pundits have focused on Spurs’ embarrassing shortcomings but here at Dream Team HQ we feel it’s worth highlighting Alexander Isak’s (£4.2m) merits.
A precise finisherGETTY
The Sweden international scored a brace on Sunday, latching onto Joe Willock’s (£2m) supreme pass before he slotted past Hugo Lloris (£3.3m) only to again beat the beleaguered Frenchman from a tight angle moments later.
The 23-year-old has now scored ten Premier League goals in 15 appearances (eleven starts).
This impressive strike rate boils down further to a goal every 97.3 minutes in the top flight.
By way of a comparison, Harry Kane (£8.6m), who scored his 24th league goal of the season by way of a consolation strike in the second half, averages a goal every 119.5 minutes in the league this term.
Isak’s first season with Newcastle has been disrupted by injuries but he’s been ruthlessly efficient in front of goal when available.
And his Dream Team stats make for impressive reading too.
His overall tally of 82 points looks modest but that’s only because of his limited involvement this campaign.
What’s telling is his average of 4.1 points-per-game when selected, a rate bettered by only seven other forwards in 2022/23.
Gabriel Martinelli (£4.8m), who has 174 points overall and is the sixth-best asset in his position, also averages 4.1 points-per-game.
GETTYIsak couldn’t believe Spurs’ defending in the first half[/caption]
Dream Team gaffers should certainly be thinking about Isak’s viability for next season as it looks highly likely he’ll have European fixtures to bolster his schedule but is he also an option for the remainder of the current campaign?
Generally, Newcastle defenders have been the ones to provide regular healthy returns but Howe’s side have scored 15 goals in five games this month so far with their attack-minded players coming to the fore.
A 13-point haul at Spurs’ expense means Isak has plundered 56 in his last seven outings.
And there could be more returns to come as the Magpies face Everton and Southampton in their next two games, two teams currently in the relegation zone.
Isak’s ownership currently sits at 1.7% so he’s a viable differential for those who need an out-of-the-box option.