Newcastle United need Alexander Isak back in action as soon as possible to avoid being a mid-table side.
That’s according to club legend Alan Shearer, who was unimpressed by what he saw from his former side in their 0-0 draw with Everton on Saturday.
The Magpies controlled 68% of possession at Goodison Park, attempted 14 shots and generated 2.05 xG.
However, 0.79 of that xG came courtesy of Anthony Gordon’s 35th-minute penalty, with former Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford denying the England winger at his old stomping grounds.
Newcastle were disappointing in attack, with some nice, fluid passing breaking around the Everton box.
Alan Shearer marks the attack for Newcastle United
Injuries to Isak and Callum Wilson have meant Eddie Howe has been forced to play Gordon at centre-forward. The two strikers are worth their weight in gold at Newcastle, who pay them £120,000 and £46,000-a-week, according to capology.
But with the Magpies currently 13th in the Premier League in goals per game (1.1) and 16th in shots on goal per game (3.9), they need to get their forwards back into action as soon as possible.
“They were awful in the final third today,” Shearer told Match of the Day (via Newcastle World). “They’ve played some really good football in terms of getting into the final third, but their passing or finishing was awful.
“Their attacking numbers are very average, but having said that, they are six in the league. They haven’t had any (Callum) Wilson or (Alexander) Isak in the last two games. They need Isak’s tweak if they want to improve those stats.”
Top photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
