‘It’s clear’ - Talks planned with Newcastle United striker during international break as manager wants more

Sweden manager Janne Andersson is planning talks with Alexander Isak as he looks to get more out of the Newcastle United striker.

The Magpies star enjoyed a promising start to his first full season in the Premier League when he scored twice in his side’s 5-1 home win against Aston Villa but has failed to find the net in subsequent fixtures against Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton.

Isak will hope to rediscover his goalscoring touch when they face a Euro 2024 qualifying double header against Estonia and Austria over the next week. The former Real Sociedad star has scored nine goals in 40 appearances for Sweden since making his debut as a substitute in a 2-1 defeat against Ivory Coast in January 2017.

Sweden head into a crucial seven days needed to get their bid to qualify back on track after they suffered two defeats in their opening three qualifying games. Andersson believes Isak - who has not scored for his country since finding the net in a World Cup qualifier against Greece in October 2021 - can deliver more for his country and will discuss the matter with him over the coming days.

He told Fotbollskanalen: “For me, Alex is a player that I want to see take greater responsibility on the pitch.

“To step forward. I will talk to him about that. I’m not going to put a lot of pressure on him, but it’s clear that now that he has 40 international matches, he is a player that we should be able to prop up a little.”