The No1 asset at St James' Park

IT was generally accepted that Alexander Isak was Newcastle United’s most valuable commodity.

- JOHNGIBSON

Twenty seven goals in a season and a British record transfer fee of £125m rather confirmed that opinion.

So who now holds the lofty position of domestic treasure? Many would say Sandro Tonali has emerged as United’s best player and I’m certainly not going to argue with that. He is as smooth as silk and as cutting as a sharpened knife.

As Italy's international manager Roberto Mancini once said: “Sandro has a warm heart and cold head.”

Those of a more attacking bent who can only truly worship penalty area raiders say Anthony Gordon is now the go-to man. Others would venture that new boy on the block Nick Woltemade must technically be the most valuable as United paid a club record fee of £69m for him.

However, ask me who the most important asset is within St James Park as building bricks continue to be imported and I would unhesitatingly offer only one answer: Eddie Howe.

He is not only good at man management, good in the political arena that soccer has become, and sound tactically but he is the glue that keeps United’s squad together. He improves the players around him beyond recognition.