Eddie Howe reveals £80m Newcastle United ‘temptation’ ahead of Arsenal clash

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe admits he is toying with the idea of starting both Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak against Arsenal.

The attacking pair are yet to start a Premier League match together since becoming teammates last summer. Howe opted to rotate both players during the month of April, yet neither will feel they warrant a place on the bench after a remarkable run of form.

Incredibly, both players were nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award. Wilson scored eight goals, despite making just two starts, while Isak netted four times in five starts.

However, Howe may have found a way to get both stars into his starting XI. With United 1-0 down against Southampton at half-time last Sunday, Isak was moved out to the left-hand side and Wilson replaced Anthony Gordon and went into the middle.

The change by Howe paid off. Isak provided the assist for Wilson’s equaliser before the Magpies’ No.9 grabbed a second just after Theo Walcott’s own goal.

“It’s not the first time the temptation has been there to start them together,” Howe told reporters on Friday. “When you’re analysing the next game you have to look at your opponents, yourselves and pick the best team to win the game. That is no different. I have thought lots of different scenarios.

“My end decision has to be - what does the team need? Not what Callum or Alex needs. It is possible the team needs Callum and Alex, but that’s always been the case. It’s up to me to make the right call.”

Both players have hit double figures this campaign, with Isak five away from Wilson’s 15.

Asked if both players had been bouncing improvements off each other, Howe said: “I don’t think there’s teaching each other as such, I think they’ve been looking at each other and that I think there’s a natural respect. I think there’s a healthy focus on, you know, in training where you know that they’re competitive.

“They want to win if we’re doing a finishing drill, they both want to win whatever the exercise is, but that’s not just exclusive to them. That’s right through the squad, you’ll have wide players that want to be the best in their position.

“So that’s really healthy and that’s what we want. As we progress as a team we want that competition that we have in that area in all positions.

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