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Alan Shearer throws new name into 'world class' discussion with Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland

Newcastle Legend Alan Shearer has waxed lyrical about the form of one Toon forward
-Credit:Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images


Premier League legend Alan Shearer has earmarked Newcastle United's Alexander Isak as "world class" as he compared the impact of the forward to superstars Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland.

The Swedish striker has been one of the standout attacking stars in the English top flight this season, notching an impressive 17 goals and five assists in 21 outings. Those exploits mean that the 25-year-old trails only the aforementioned Salah and Haaland in the league's goalscoring standings so far this term.

Having enjoyed a run of 13 goals in 10 his last ten games in the Premier League, Isak finds himself comfortably in the running for the Golden Boot honors. Now, Toon icon Shearer - who holds the record for the most goals in the league's history with 260 strikes - has lauded the St James' Park hero for his performance since his move to Tyneside.

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In total, the 50-time international has scored 48 times in his 73 league outings for the Magpies since his move from Real Sociedad back in 2022. Waxing lyrical about the forward's contributions, Shearer said on The Rest is Football Podcast: "He’s been at Newcastle for two-and-a-half years now and he’s got nearly 50 Premier League goals.

"I think that’s a very, very good record but I think he’s getting better and the one thing he has to stay clear of is injuries. If he plays regularly, with his ability, the way he carries the ball, the touch and everything else, I think he’s played himself into the category of the two other world class forwards in our league in Salah and Haaland I really do."

In response, former Manchester City and Aston Villa defender Micah Richards agreed with his fellow pundit as he divulged that he would describe Isak as a "world class" talent. However, the analyst did qualify his remark, as he pointed out that he feels the player has shown "attributes" which would put him in this category, rather than demonstrating these qualities over a long period.

Alexander Isak of Newcastle United
Alexander Isak of Newcastle United -Credit:Getty Images

"I just believe because a team that he is playing at, had just got into the Champions League, it’s very difficult to call him world class because world class is over a period of time," he asserted. "But if you ask me, he as a player has got the attributes that every other world class player has, I would say yes."

Going into further detail, Richards concluded that Isak is a better all-round striker than peers such as the aforementioned Haaland. He added: “He’s the best all-round striker in the Premier League, no doubt about it. Alan is completely right.

"He can do absolutely everything and he’s so clean and tidy, touch, technique and all of those things. It’s just very difficult at a time when a team is trying to push into the Champions League. Imagine him in Man City’s team. We would all be calling him world class wouldn’t we? That’s the difference at this moment in time."