A BRILLIANT end to an excellent week. If the wins over Leicester City and Brentford had hinted at a Newcastle United revival, this was a performance that suggested the Magpies are back to their best.

Yes, Ipswich were dreadful, looking every inch like a team destined to spend the rest of the season battling against the drop.

But Newcastle still had to take advantage, and they were both merciless and magnificent as they repeatedly tore apart the Tractor Boys’ defence.

Alexander Isak was the headline maker, claiming Newcastle’s first hat-trick since Ayoze Perez scored all three goals in a 3-1 win over Southampton back in April 2019.

Jacob Murphy ran the Swede close in the battle for the Man of the Match honours, though, scoring with a fine first-half finish and setting up two of Isak’s goals.

Bruno Guimaraes, who hit the post with a second-half header, was brilliant at the heart of midfield, while Sandro Tonali excelled again, running the game from his new deep-lying role. Back in the top half of the table, Newcastle will enjoy a very happy Christmas.

They could not have wished for a better start this afternoon as they looked to maintain the momentum generated by back-to-back wins over Leicester and Brentford, with Isak’s opener timed at just 25 seconds.

Fabian Schar sent Murphy galloping away down the right touchline, and when Sam Morsy could only clear the winger’s cross to Isak, the Swede drilled an excellent half-volley past Arijanet Muric.

The goal was initially ruled out, with the assistant flagging Murphy onside, but a lengthy VAR check ruled that the winger was onside when Schar sent his long ball forward.

Buoyed by their first-minute opener, Newcastle spent most of the early part of the game on the front foot.

Tonali fired just over after Anthony Gordon rolled a square pass into his path, before Gordon wasted a great opportunity to double the Magpies’ lead.

Murphy hung up an inviting cross to the back post, but from six yards out, Gordon headed into the ground, with the ball rebounding over the crossbar.

Nine minutes later, and Newcastle were passing up another excellent chance to extend their advantage. This time it was Isak at fault, with the striker side-footing a tame effort straight at Muric after Murphy’s slide-rule pass released him into the left of the box.

Ipswich hadn’t really threatened the Newcastle goal at that stage, although the hosts might well have claimed an equaliser had Martin Dubravka not been quick off his line to prevent Sammy Szmodics from getting a shot away when the striker was released into the box in the 20th minute.

As it was, the visitors continued to dominate, and deservedly doubled their lead shortly after the half-hour mark.

Gordon laid the ball off to Murphy after dribbling across the face of the 18-yard box, and the in-form winger hammered home an excellent finish via the underside of the crossbar.

It was already just a matter of how many goals Newcastle would score, and a third duly arrived in first-half stoppage time.

It was a Christmas present gift-wrapped by Ipswich goalkeeper Muric, who rolled a suicidal pass to Jens Cajuste, who was immediately placed under pressure by Guimaraes.

The Brazilian’s aggressive pressing was a feature of his play all afternoon, and his tackle on Cajuste saw the ball drop invitingly for Isak, who was left with the simple task of rolling home his second goal of the game.

The break did nothing to halt Newcastle’s momentum, and Guimaraes came within inches of adding a fourth goal six minutes into the second half.

Lewis Hall sent over an inviting cross from the left, and the Brazilian midfielder guided a stooping header against the base of the right-hand post.

No matter. Three minutes later and Newcastle were scoring a fourth, with Isak completing his first hat-trick in black-and-white.

Murphy was the architect again, dribbling his way through the Ipswich box, and when he backheeled into Isak’s path, the striker took one touch to control before stabbing home with his second.