Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has made a big claim regarding Alexander Isak‘s availability for the upcoming EFL Cup final clash with Liverpool.
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The Magpies were beaten 2-0 away to the Reds in midweek, with the Premier League leaders’ superiority ultimately showing at Anfield, following goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister.
Newcastle were without star man Isak to lead the line, however, with an injury keeping him sidelined, as Eddie Howe looks to handle him with care. Without the Swede, the visitors weren’t the same force, with Liverpool’s defence troubled far less than if he had been in the starting lineup, having given Virgil van Dijk a tough assignment in the 3-3 draw at St James’ Park back in December.
There is now a huge amount of understandable focus on the EFL Cup final on March 16th, in what is one of the biggest days in the Magpies’ history, as they look to end their unfathomable 70-year wait for a major trophy.
Isak’s fitness is understandably a cause for concern for Newcastle supporters, considering the clash with the Reds is now only just over two weeks away, and their chances of glory will be hugely affected if he is only able to watch on from the sidelines. Now, a key update has emerged regarding the situation.
Shearer provides Isak injury update
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer said that he believes Isak will be fit for Newcastle’s EFL Cup showdown with Liverpool at Wembley.
“From what I’m hearing, he’s going to be fine for the final.”
It goes without saying that Magpies fans will be breathing an enormous sigh of relief at this news, with the 25-year-old’s involvement against Liverpool so integral to their hopes of glory.
It does appear as though Howe is making sure he doesn’t overplay his influential striker, especially as he has had injury problems in the past, and it would be negligent to run him into the ground before one of the biggest games in many decades.
Shearer himself knows a thing or two about what makes a special attacking player, and he recently described Isak as “world-class”, putting him in the same bracket as two current greats of the game.
“I think there’s three world-class forwards in the Premier League now. Haaland being one, Salah being another. I think Isak has played himself into that company now.”
It’s hard to argue with that, with Isak’s form this season making him one of the most feared strikers in Europe, and he could make himself a St James’ Park legend if he inspires Newcastle to victory at Wembley next month.
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Even Shearer failed to win anything during his legendary stint at the club, so for Howe and all of his players, this acts as a wonderful opportunity to make themselves heroes for the rest of their lives.
