Isak feeling the weight as he carries heavy goal burden on his own

MAGPIES MUST BRING IN BACK-UP FOR STAR STRIKER

- By STUART JAMIESON

NO ONE should be above criticism at Newcastle United, but perhaps Alexander Isak is as close as you can get to immunity.

The Swedish striker has contributed so much to the cause this season - and indeed every year since signing from Real Sociedad - that it feels wrong to question recent displays.

But the uncomfortable truth is that United's talisman has not quite looked the same player since his Wembley heroics ended 70 years without a domestic trophy back in March. The goals haven't exactly dried up, but he is far from the lethal marksman who terrorised Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, Nottingham Forest ... the list goes on.

Of his 22 Premier League goals this season already an incredible achievement with four still to play - only five have come since the end of January. Two of those were penalties, against Nottingham Forest and Ipswich. Indeed his spot-kick against the latter came after he uncharacteristically wasted two earlier gilt-edged chances.