‘For me’: Sky Sports pundit isn’t sure new Newcastle United signing is going to be Howe’s first choice

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Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson isn’t sure that new club record signing Alekander Isak will be first choice at Newcastle United.

The Swedish international joined the Magpies from Real Socieded for £63m on Friday.

Isak is hoping to make his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers today, with Callum Wilson unavailable due to injury.

The 22-year-old scored six goals in La Liga last season, and scored his final goal in Spain against Barcelona last weekend.

Newcastle have been linked with a whole host of players this summer, and may still do more business before the window closes next week.

They’ll be delighted to get the Isak deal over the line, with Newcastle’s entire recruitment team convinced that the club should sign the forward.

Merson not sure Isak will be first choice

Speaking on Soccer Saturday, Merson was asked about Howe’s new centre-forward.

Merson wasn’t convinced by Newcastle’s decision to bring him in, and believes Callum Wilson will still start ahead of Isak when fit:  “He better have the X Factor, he’s got to have the X Factor, don’t start showing me a reel as I could show you a reel of me playing and still look good.

“I mean this is the problem, Barcelona haven’t gone for him, Real Madrid haven’t gone for him, Man United haven’t gone for him, Chelsea haven’t gone for him, Liverpool haven’t gone for him, Arsenal haven’t gone for him.

“Chelsea need a centre-forward they haven’t even gone for him.

“For me if Callum Wilson’s fit, Callum Wilson plays.

“If he’s got the X Factor, and he’s at Newcastle, he wouldn’t wish to be anywhere else.

“If he starts scoring goals, and doing that (after watching a clip of Isak’s goal against Kosovo), he’s going to be a hero.”

If Isak isn’t ready to feature against Wolves, he’s still likely to have several weeks to prove his worth to Howe with Wilson struggling with a hamstring injury.

He’ll have the support of Allan Saint-Maximin to provide him chances, who Wilson believes had his best game in a Newcastle shirt last weekend against Manchester City.

Isak is also a keen dribbler, and compliments Newcastle’s direct style well.

The question will be whether he can be as clinical in front of goal as Wilson.

The Englishman outscored Isak last season, despite playing nearly 1,000 league minutes.

Isak will have plenty to prove with a big price tag hanging over his head, and only time will tell whether Merson’s prediction that Howe will still prefer Wilson comes true.