Isak showing glimpses of his idol Henry
JOE WILLOCK’s ‘assist of the century’ did not stand the test of time. Four days, in fact. The owner of that grandiose title, albeit one bestowed by their own club, is now his Newcastle team-mate, Alexander Isak.
Ironically, Isak was the beneficiary of Willock’s 50-yard pass during sunday’s 6-1 victory over Tottenham. That ball won comparison to Luka Modric.
Now, after another Newcastlethemed episode of Premier League Years, it is Isak who has drawn likeness to Thierry Henry.
The swede’s dribble against Everton was more like a chase scene from Keystone Cops, however, and the boys in blue were made to look just as hilariously incompetent.
Isak received the ball on halfway. Ben Godfrey was initially tasked with bringing him under lock and key, but he ran away.
Reinforcement arrived in the form of Michael Keane and Idrissa Gueye, and they were at least successful in forcing their tormentor towards the corner flag.
But nobody puts Isak in the corner. By the time he was done with his would-be captors, it was them pleading for mercy. He had turned them so many ways, all that remained was for a comedy collision and a puff of smoke.
Now for Godfrey, whose white flag was still visible on the edge of the penalty area. Cowed by the humiliation of his comrades, he as good as waved Isak through.
Jordan Pickford and James Tarkowksi were next. They felt a rush of bravado in charging to detain the swindler who had robbed others of their dignity. They were soon scrambling on the floor for their own self-respect as Isak dinked the ball between them and across the goalmouth.
As the credits rolled, Jacob Murphy scored into an open net. The goal, capping a 4-1 victory, was very much a postscript act.
But there we had it, the greatest assist the Premier League had seen since last weekend.
This one was better, though. And it did evoke memories of Henry, the way Isak had stopped and started, dropped shoulders and defenders and showed a turn of foot every bit as sharp as his speed of thought.
‘I can see the comparisons with Henry,’ said Eddie Howe. ‘Everyone is different, there’s no two players the same, but I think he has some of the characteristics that Thierry had. He’s certainly got the speed and is a similar build and frame.
‘The footwork for the assist against Everton was remarkable, really. The amount of turns and twists and stepovers he did, an incredible piece of skill. He has incredible ball manipulation.’
Isak wears No14 because Henry was his idol. It is a wise choice, given the obvious temptation for worship of maverick countryman Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Isak, though, prefers to let his feet do the talking, and right now they are making a helluva racket. Howe’s belief is that the striker’s seven goals in eight games are just the start.
There is a feeling that he may be even better than the player they thought they were signing for a club-record £60million from Real sociedad in August.
‘He’s got a lot of potential to improve and get better, but it’s been a great start for him,’ said Howe. ‘I don’t think you ever know with absolute certainty how good a signing will be. Anyone who says that would be lying, because until you work with a player and see them close up every day, you never really know what their true capability is.
‘But we have been very impressed with everything he has delivered to this point — not just technically on the pitch, but also his character and how he has handled certain situations, too. He has been first class.’
What should also serve as a warning for Newcastle’s rivals is that, at Goodison Park, Isak wasn’t even in the starting XI. He and Callum Wilson are having to share the centre-forward’s jersey.
Wilson scored twice and the second of those, bent into the top corner from 20 yards, was reminiscent of Dennis Bergkamp.
There you have it — Wilson and Isak, Bergkamp and Henry. There is certainly an invincible feel to Newcastle United right now.