Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has dropped another hint that Alexander Isak's contract extension is in the pipeline at St James' Park.

Howe referenced the fact that United have not strengthened - in terms of established players - for the last three windows - and was asked directly if keeping Isak was key for the Magpies as they head towards another potential Champions League campaign.

Howe said: "Linked to a number of other players really, I think we have to try and keep our best players. I think that’s crucial to our short-term success and our long-term success, so sitting here as the manager of the football club, I’d be saying we need to keep the group together, and we need to add the other way.

READ MORE: Newcastle United contract talks active with key man after significant milestone passed

READ MORE: Pep Guardiola shows class towards Newcastle United and reveals new injury crisis

"We haven't added (to the first team) in a long time in various transfer windows, for the reasons we've all discussed. But we need to move the team forward and we can't lose our best players."

Isak has netted 54 goals in total for Newcastle and is already second top Premier League goalscorer of all-time behind Alan Shearer. But Howe suggested that the Sweden international is just getting started at United.

He said: "I think there’s a lot more to come from Alex. Again, another traditional standard answer from me for every player, as well as some individuals may be playing, I would say there is still so much more each player can give and has to give to the team in loads of different ways.

“For Alex, it might be a different area to another player. Every player can give more and do more and has to have a really open mind, and I think that’s absolutely vital for their own individual development."

Howe also feels that Newcastle and their meticulous backroom team can only improve Isak's performances.

He said: "There are so many different areas and aspects of the game that you can take your game now with the analysis we have available at our fingertips. Certainly, our job, my job, the coaching team’s job, is to push Alex now to do even better."