RIGHT-MINDED Dream Team managers don’t need much of an excuse to back Alexander Isak (£5.2m).
Despite a handful of injury setbacks, Newcastle’s No14 has proven himself to be one of the Premier League’s best strikers since his arrival on English shores in the summer of 2022.
The Sweden international has scored 37 goals in 65 league appearances for the Magpies at an impressive strike rate of one every 131 minutes.
More relevantly, he’s in great form right now having scored six goals in his last eight outings; and that includes when he was forced off with a knock midway through the first half against Crystal Palace at the end of November.
Isak’s prolific spell in front of goal has yielded 68 points since the start of Gameweek 9, making him one of Dream Team’s most in-form players.
Aside from a concerning availability record, the main reason gaffers have been reluctant to select the 25 year-old forward is his comparatively relaxed schedule.
Eddie Howe’s side narrowly missed out on European qualification last season meaning Isak simply doesn’t have as many point-scoring opportunities as the likes of Kai Havertz (£4.7m), Dominic Solanke (£4.1m), Ollie Watkins (£5.5m), etc.
However, the fixture list is about to pivot.
From the start of Gameweek 15 (which gets underway this Saturday) until the end of Gameweek 19 in mid-January, no team will play more games than Newcastle.
And it will stay that way if the Toon get past Brentford in the Carabao Cup quarter-final at St James’ Park.
With the fixture count now in Isak’s favour, he is a super viable option for Dream Team bosses throughout the festive period.
NEWCASTLE FIXTURES FROM GAMEWEEK 15 TO GAMEWEEK 19:
- Leicester (h) – Premier League
- Brentford (h) – Carabao Cup
- Ipswich (a) – Premier League
- Aston Villa (h) – Premier League
- Manchester United (a) – Premier League
- Tottenham (a) – Premier League
- Bromley (h) – FA Cup
- Wolves (h) – Premier League
If Isak is able to maintain his current form there will be plenty of points up for grabs in the coming weeks.
The next two Gameweeks looks particularly appealing as three of his four fixtures are due to take place at St James’ Park.
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Additionally, both the Foxes and Tractor Boys are currently in the bottom five while the Bees have a dismal record on the road this campaign, in contrast to their amazingly strong home form.
Granted, Newcastle haven’t been at their best so far this season but in Isak they have striker capable of special things.
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