Eddie to strike the right note
EDDIE HOWE hopes the battle between Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak will drive Newcastle to new heights.
The Toon boss is facing a selection headache with both £60m Isak and England World Cup star Wilson in top form and scoring.
But the way Howe sets his team up means only one can play up front, flanked by the pace of his wingers.
Isak has four goals in his last four appearances, including one in the 5-1 thrashing of West Ham after coming off the bench.
Wilson has three in three – including scoring as a sub against Manchester United – and 10 for the season.
Howe now faces a dilemma over who to start at Brentford as they look to tighten their grip on third spot tomorrow.
Whoever is chosen is likely to be given a blast for 60 minutes, at which point Howe frequently refreshes his forward line.
Howe said: “You need goals. I want those options. Alex was excellent about my decision at West Ham, and he proved that when he came on and scored.
“For Callum the roles were reversed – he didn’t start against Manchester United, Alex played really well, but then he (Wilson) came on and scored. Hopefully it will drive both of them on to give more.
“I would never say, ‘You’re a 60-minute player’ because I don’t think that’s healthy for their brains.
“But the way the game is going, and the way we want to play, it gives a player coming onto the pitch long enough to get into the game.
“But I’ve said many times, Callum and Alex can play together. I do see a time where they will both be on.”
Wilson has vowed to fight to be at Newcastle “long term” and take down strikers ahead of him in the club’s all-time top scorers list.
His double against West Ham fired him into the top 10 Premier League goals list for the high-flying Toon.
He is now planning to get the record books out and hunt down rivals like Papiss Cisse and Andy Cole. “It is amazing to be in the top 10,” said Wilson.
“I am here long term hopefully. I just want to keep scoring. I want to take down as many as I can ahead of me.”