ALEXANDER THE GREAT GETS TOON BACK ON IT

WHEN Alexander Isak is at the top of his game the likelihood is Newcastle are too.

- Ryan Taylor

The red-hot Swedish frontman was quiet by his standards during last weekend's 4-1 home humiliation at the hands of Bournemouth. But he single-handedly got the Magpies' top-four bid back on track with a brilliant brace at Southampton.

The doomed Saints, who have now lost all six of their Premier League matches under Ivan Juric, succumbed to their seventh straight defeat to Newcastle despite taking the lead through Jan Bednarek.

Isak's electric movement and clinical finishing showcased the gulf in class between these two contrasting sides as the £63million forward hit his 16th and 17th league goals of the season to fire Newcastle back to winning ways with help from Sandro Tonali.