Newcastle’s Isak equals Obafemi Martins’ Premier League record

Newcastle’s Swedish forward Alexander Isak has equalled a record set by Ex-Super Eagles forward Obafemi Martins.

The 6ft 4in Swede scored twice for Newcastle in the opening game of the 2023/24 season as the Magpies ran rampant in a 5-1 win over Aston Villa.

Isak scored one goal each in either half to open his account for the new season with two sublime strikes to keep him equal with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland at the top of the Premier League’s scorer’s chart for the new season.

With his goals against Aston Villa, Isak, who joined from Real Sociedad in 2022, Isak became the first player to score in consecutive Premier League season openers since 2009.

The previous player to achieve this feat for the Magpies was Nigerian forward Obafemi Martins, who scored consecutive opening matches in the 2007/08 and 2008/09 seasons.

Martins netted a brace in a 3-1 win over Bolton in August 2007, and also scored Newcastle’s only goal in a famous 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United almost exactly one year later.

Isak’s feat of scoring in consecutive opening games will come as no surprise to followers of the Premier League after the Sweden international scored 10 goals in 17 starts in his first campaign with Newcastle.