Newcastle 3-0 Aston Villa: Isak continues fine form to leave fans hoping of Europe return

Alexander Isak's 11th Premier League goal of the season and his seventh in six games helped Newcastle to a dominant victory against Aston Villa - to leave the Magpies fans dreaming of a return to European football.

A Champions League campaign last season was followed by an absence of continental football in 2024-25, but Eddie Howe's side continued their fine resurgence to move fifth in the league.

Since losing 4-2 at Brentford on 7 December, Newcastle have scored 14 goals in four games, with a pair of 4-0 wins over Leicester and Ipswich in the league to add to this Boxing Day success, plus a 3-1 win over Brentford to move into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

It is not only Isak that is contributing.

Anthony Gordon started things off with a fine curling strike to put Newcastle one up after only 80 seconds, before Villa striker Jhon Duran left his side with an uphill task following a straight red card for scraping his studs along Fabian Schar's back after 32 minutes.

Isak followed up his hat-trick in Saturday's thrashing of Ipswich by adding a second, with Jacob Murphy continuing his excellent form with the assist, before Joelinton added a third in injury-time.

That is four wins in a row for a revitalised Newcastle. A European return is getting closer.