'We'll see how it goes': Two-goal hero Alexander Isak gives honest assessment of European push

Alexander Isak came very close to that elusive first hat-trick for Newcastle United in the Magpies 5-1 win over now-relegated Sheffield United.

The Sweden international closed the gap to just one goal in the race for the Golden Boot with Cole Palmer and Erling Haaland both on 20 and Isak on 19.

That hat-trick really would have meant so much, especially as it would have made Isak the first Newcastle striker to hit 20 Premier League goals since a certain Alan Shearer in 2004.

However, with Newcastle's first-half performance, we may have been discussing far more serious things than our striker missing out on picking up three goals.

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Alexander Isak was desperate for his hat-trick

Speaking to Premier League Productions after the game (via The Shields Gazette), Isak admitted that the Magpies were slow to get going before saying they need to stay focused to attain European football for next season.

“We got off to quite a bad start and needed one goal against us to wake up. The reaction was very good. The manager gave us a wake-up call at half-time.

"Many of my penalties have been here at home. I tried to stay calm and focus on the moment. I was thinking I want a hat-trick. I haven't had one.

"Europe is still alive and we have to focus on ourselves and we'll see how it goes."

We love a half time rally!

Not for the first time this season Newcastle have gone in at half time looking like a team defeated and then come out in the second half and sprung to life.

Whatever it is Eddie Howe does to them at half time seems to work more often than not, thankfully.

Newcastle take on Burnley at Turf Moor next week with Vincent Kompany's men holding Manchester United to a 1-1 draw today. It's clear they aren't going to be pushovers despite also being close to relegation.