Newcastle United‘s players have a chance to etch their names in the history of the club as they prepare to take on Manchester United in the League Cup final on Sunday.
The Magpies could win their first major domestic trophy since 1955 by overcoming the Red Devils but they head into the match in disappointing form in the Premier League.
Eddie Howe’s side have only won one of their last seven games in the division and have scored three goals in that time – failing to score in four matches.
Their goalscoring woes are a cause for concern and the head coach could solve the problem by making a slight alteration to his team in the coming weeks.
The English head coach could improve the club’s attacking output and allow them to put teams to bed by punishing them in the final third by unleashing Alexander Isak next to Callum Wilson as a front two.
Will Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson work as a pairing for Newcastle?
Whilst it may not be his preferred choice for the final on Sunday, given the magnitude of the match, Howe could go with them as a pair in the Premier League in the final months of the campaign to fire the team to Champions League football.
Should Wilson and Isak start together?
Yes
No
They have only played alongside each other in one match this season and that resulted in them linking up for Isak to score the winning goal against Fulham in the top-flight.
The pair played 19 minutes together at the end of that clash at Craven Cottage and the Swedish international bundled in the winner after Wilson did well to keep the ball alive at the back post.
Wilson, who was once hailed as “unique” by Magpies coach Graeme Jones, has been the main centre-forward for Newcastle this term. He has started 14 matches for the Magpies in the division and produced seven goals and three assists in that time – after managing eight strikes in 16 starts for the club last season.
The £46k-per-week marksman is a proven goalscorer at this level and his eight assists since the start of 2020/21 also suggest that the dynamo can also be an effective creator for his teammates.
Isak, who was once dubbed a “unicorn” by radio presenter Kev Lawson, has scored three goals and created seven chances in five Premier League starts for Newcastle since making the move from Real Sociedad – after managing 23 goals and ten ‘big chances’ created in his last two full LaLiga campaigns.
These statistics show that the 6 foot 4 titan has the quality to score goals and create opportunities for others, much like his potential strike partner Wilson.
Therefore, they could be an excellent duo as they are both adept at finishing chances and linking up with their teammates and their combination for the winning goal against Fulham is a glimpse of what they could offer as a pair, which is why they could solve the club’s current goalscoring woes.