Alexander Isak has ‘X factor’ to flourish at Newcastle, insists Eddie Howe

Eddie Howe believes Alexander Isak possesses the “X factor” to succeed at Newcastle United and is convinced the £59m Sweden striker is ideally suited to the English game.

As the finishing touches were applied to the 22-year-old’s club record move from Real Sociedad on a six-year contract on Friday, Newcastle’s manager was planning to offer Isak a debut during Sunday’s visit to Wolves.

“He has pace, technical ability, dribbling ability,” said Howe, who has signed £210m of players since succeeding Steve Bruce at St James’ Park last November. “He’s got a bit of the X factor about him.

“Alex is slightly different and I think he’s capable of scoring goals. He’s technically very good and has a mix of qualities I really like in a forward player. For such a young player, he’s had a lot of experiences thrown at him, playing for big clubs in Germany [with Borussia Dortmund], the Netherlands [Willem II] and Spain [Real Sociedad].

“The English game will suit his profile. He’s a really good athlete with a host of things going for him and his best years are ahead of him. He’s a very exciting signing for us.”

Although Isak is expected to begin on the bench at Wolves, with Chris Wood starting at centre-forward, his arrival is timely given that the immensely talented, but injury prone, Callum Wilson, until now Howe’s principal striker, will be sidelined by hamstring trouble for at least a fortnight.

Newcastle’s manager is adamant Isak and Wilson are sufficiently different to eventually play together and is confident the latter will continue to be an important player.

“I back Callum 100%,” said Howe, who managed Wilson at Bournemouth. “I’ve known him for a long, long time and have never met anyone with a better attitude or a better