Eddie Howe drops big Newcastle United hint on Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson partnership
Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson combined to change the game for Newcastle United against Brentford.
Second-half substitute Wilson – who had missed out on a start despite scoring twice against West Ham United at the London Stadium in midweek – set up Isak for yesterday's winner at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Isak’s 61st-minute strike, which followed an equaliser from Joelinton after Ivan Toney had given Brentford a half-time lead with a penalty, gave Newcastle a 2-1 win.
However, Eddie Howe – who normally plays with one out-and-out striker – doesn’t see Isak and Wilson starting games together “every week”.
Asked how chose between Isak and Wilson for the game, United’s head coach said: “I had discussions with the medical team and sports scientists, and view the players’ load, and tried to get a decision based on all that information.
"It was a tough call, because, as I’ve said so many times, they’re two top-qualify players. Can they play together every week? Probably not, tactically, from our perspective. Can they play together in a game like that? Absolutely, yes.”
Howe had felt that his team needed “more of a focal point” after a poor first-half performance which had also seen Nick Pope save a penalty from former Newcastle striker Toney.
“The thinking behind getting Alex and Callum together was pretty obvious, really,” said Howe. “I just think we needed more of a focal point in the game. We needed the ability to run in behind, because, for whatever reason, that wasn’t happening in the first half.”