Nothing left to play for? Naw, I'm not having that. Not yet. Newcastle have a 10-match charge to try and grab onto the coat tails of Europe and save a disappointing season of ups and plenty downs.

They stand on the launchpad right now - to achieve their aim they must surely defeat both West Ham and Everton at St James' Park over a period stretching from Saturday lunchtime to Tuesday night. And to do so United will look towards their top shooter Alexander Isak to light the touch paper.

So if the Mags have got their target to aim at let me give one to our super Swede - stay fit which has been a problem and score at least four goals in those remaining 10 matches. Why four? Because that would take him on to 20 for the season in all competitions and see him break through a 20 year barrier to stand alongside club legend Alan Shearer.

READ MORE: How many matches Bruno Guimaraes must negotiate to avoid Newcastle United ban

READ MORE: The Newcastle United cash injection club chiefs will hope can give FFP boost

Believe it or not it is two decades since United's top marksman notched 20 or more during a top flight season. Shearer, officially the greatest goalscorer in United's history, did it for the third successive season in 2003-04 with a grand total of 28.

Since then Newcastle have had a succession of leading scorers from Callum Wilson, Miggy Almiron and Ayoze Perez to Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba, Loic Remy, and Georginio Wijnaldum without anyone achieving the magical breakthrough.

Isak currently resides on 16 goals from 25 starts plus four sub appearances, a tremendous goals per game ratio. He has scored across all four competitions United have taken part in - 12 Premier League strikes, two in the FA Cup, and one apiece in the Carabao Cup and Champions League.

Alex will inevitably claim the crown of the injured Wilson who had been United's top finisher in all his three previous seasons here. Indeed Callum's 18 last time out, all in the PL, is an overall total Isak still has to top and the best goals return when United have been in the top division since Shearer.

There have been a couple of stand-out seasons where Dwight Gayle scored 23 and Andy Carroll 19 but they were both in the Championship, hardly the same level of opposition.

Of course the superstar strikers are in a class of their own - Shearer finished with a staggering 206 goals for United scoring 28, 25, and 28 in three successive seasons up to 2004 and topping 20 in no fewer than six campaigns. SuperMac did it in all his five seasons on Tyneside reaching 30 twice while Wor Jackie beat 20 six times with 29 his best return and remember in his days there were only two competitions to rack up goals, the League and the FA Cup.

Occasional seasons of rich pickings saw Andy Cole tot up an unbelievable 41 in 1993-94 and Les Ferdinand in his two terms during the mid nineties record 29 followed by another 21. Naturally we are talking the cream of the cream here but let us remember that Isak is only 24 years of age as he strives to enter the land of the giants and not because he stands as tall as a giraffe. Alex is on the cusp of a personal record which he could equal or even better against West Ham. The best goals return of his career is the 17 he scored in La Liga for Real Sociedad during 2020-21.

Nothing to play for? Does it look like it? Let Isak fire United back into Europe but to get there United must start to make up lost ground now because there is no longer any wiggle room. At first glance it is more than possible for United to complete a SJP double against West Ham and Everton but then we remember just last month two successive home matches amid great expectations against non-frightening opposition in Luton Town and Bournemouth.

What happened? United had to come from 4-2 down to nick a single point against the Hatters and then required a 92nd minute goal by a rare sub Matt Ritchie to similarly pick up small morsels from a 2-2 draw with the Cherries. That is a real warning to take nothing for granted but let it also be a wake up call. No more slip ups in front of 50,000 of our own or all hope is forfeited. It really is now or never.

The Hammers have good players - Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and James Ward Prowse - but then not enough of them to make a significant difference when challenged by the best. However if United are to succeed they need their big names to live up to status which some have certainly not of late. Are you listening Alex? Bruno and Anthony Gordon? Fabian Schar, Joe Willock et al?

I'll be back at the Tyneside Irish Centre along with John Anderson on match day but because of the early kick off plans have been switched. We will now be on stage within half an hour of the final whistle hopefully celebrating mission accomplished.

Entertainers back in town

The big hitters of Newcastle United are coming to town. Two more names have been added to the list of the Entertainers who will be appearing at the Tyne Theatre And Opera House on January 24 next year when I will be hosting the evening.

Peter Beardsley and Lee Clark, two Geordie lads at the heart of Kevin Keegan's revolution, will lend considerate weight to an event which will focus on seasons 1992 to 95 including KK's arrival and formation of everybody's favourite second team, the glorious promotion campaign, and those early days in the Premier League that led to European nights returning. Tickets are on sale from www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk or by calling box office 0844 2491 000.