Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe called striker Alexander Isak outstanding on Saturday after his two goals against Southampton put the Sweden international firmly in the race for the Premier League golden boot.

Newcastle ended their last match chastened, slumping to a 4-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth which included two goals in injury time. The defeat ended a nine match unbeaten run, but the Southampton game was an opportunity for Newcastle to prove their class — if they are as good as they want to be, they need to put away poor teams.

The Magpies had put the pressure on from the off, keen to avenge last week's 4-1 defeat to Bournemouth, but it was Southampton who took the lead against the run of play inside 10 minutes when James Bree's peach of a cross was powerfully headed home by the unmarked Bednarek.