It's a four-letter word adored by Geordies. Isak. Here's another. Goal. They go together like star struck lovers. Definition of Isak according to the Oxford English Dictionary: brings goals to Newcastle.
Twenty-five in all competitions last season, 23 this time with 10 more matches to add to a bulging total. One more needed to bring up 20 Premier League goals in successive seasons, something never achieved by any United striker. Aye, that's right. Including the greatest, Alan Shearer.
United are ticking off things on their bucket list one by one. So let Alexander The Great notch the necessary one against Brentford in front of an adoring audience and move on. Normal service resumed after a period of celebration.
As he prepares for a return to Magpie action Isak has already achieved two significant personal milestones - 100 appearances for 58 goals since he first arrived here and 50 PL strikes in 77 games. Great averages aren't they? He got what turned out to be the winner at Wembley last time in Geordie battle dress and as with all great strikers will be eyeing the next target.
If Swedes are meant to be ice cold when it comes to execution (think Bjorn Borg) then Isak is living up to national tradition. Hot rushes of blood are suffered by those who cannot control passion and therefore become vulnerable.
Pele was always Pele. Same with Bobby Charlton, Ronaldo and Messi. Gazza was a yo-yo up and down. So too Jack Gealish. Maradona as well as the demons took over. So who will be ready for the bread and butter after caviar? Isak you suspect. Sandro Tonali? Tripps yeah. BDB hopefully. Eddie definitely.
This is a big match for all but especially Harvey Barnes who starred as all did when given an unexpected start in the Carabao Cup final. He not only knows Anthony Gordon is released from suspension after Brentford if fit but next Monday's game is at Leicester, his old club of course.
Barnes is still trying to permanently establish himself after his £37m move in July of 2023 and this is a major opportunity. He needs to impose himself upon Geordie landscape.
Howe has been trying to keep the balance between deserved celebration after Wembley and concentration on the job ahead. It is like walking a tightrope. The straight and narrow is the only way to prevent falling off but young men are, well young men with all the natural exuberance I can remember from many years ago.
In a peculiar way Brentford at SJP on a midweek night under lights will be as big a test, if a very different one, to Liverpool centre stage at Wembley on cup final day. Rising to an ordinary occasion can be more difficult than meeting the challenge of Everest. It is comparatively easy to get up for that, a tad more difficult for everyday encounter.
Nevertheless United must. Three points are as now a big prize, if not a trophy after so many barren years. Europe beckons.
Good teams and big clubs overcome obstacles in their relentlessness and Brentford are in the way. They are dangerous, decisive on the front foot who take a delight in punishing anyone thinking above their station. Drop your guard and a left hook can drop you.
United have experienced both sides of them this very season. Well cuffed 4-2 down there in the league, the Bees were duffed 3-1 up here on United's way to ultimate Carabao Cup success. I know which result we want repeated!
Ironically their form is now the other way round - better when leaving base than at home. However it is not so much about them as about us. Our attitude, how much petrol is in the tank, how much perhaps understandable partying was done by each and every player, desire and determination. It is a tad unusual is the League Cup - you celebrate and then have to go back to work for quite a while whereas winning the league or FA Cup ends in a party and summer hollies.
I'm looking for United with the help of an upbeat crowd to keep the feelgood factor going.
