NEWCASTLE: Alexander Isak believes the best is yet to come from himself — and from Newcastle United.

Few expected the Magpies or the Sweden international to have such a positive campaign, with Isak nominated for the Premier League young player of the year award — eventually and predictably won by Erling Haaland — as well as netting 10 goals in an injury-punctuated debut season.

His goals and performances helped Newcastle finish in fourth spot, qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in two decades.

It was a campaign laden with success, even though Eddie Howe’s side narrowly missed out on their first major silverware since 1969 by losing to Manchester United in the final of the Carabao Cup in February. 

And it has led many to wonder whether Newcastle in 2022/23 were just a flash in the pan, whether positive progress can be replicated when battle commences on the 2023/24 season in mid-August.

Isak is in no doubt about what lies ahead, both for himself and the club as a whole.

“When I signed I didn’t think too much about the future. It was a good project and I knew the club’s goals. It (success) has come quick, though,” said the 23-year-old striker.

“They (the owners) said the ambition was to become a big club and to fight for something. I think yes, since I came I felt that. Already we have done some great things. What we aim for and what the club wants is great and we are on a good path.”

Newcastle are likely to be paired with at least one of the Champions League’s big boys when the draw for the competition takes place on August 31. 

Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and AC Milan are the type of clubs Newcastle could face, bringing back memories on Champions League nights of years gone by, when the Magpies beat Barcelona, Juventus and others at St. James’ Park.

When asked whether Newcastle can compete, Isak was blunt with his answer: “Yes, of course we can.”

“It is a big club, but we can achieve more in terms of achievements and getting further in tables and tournaments, but Newcastle is a massive club and everyone knows that.”

Newcastle are on the verge of completing the near-record $87 million transfer of AC Milan’s Sandro Tonali, who has 15 senior Italian caps to his name. The fee would better the $80 million paid for Isak last summer.

It comes after the capture of Yankuba Minteh from Danish side OB. James Maddison and RB Leipzig’s Dominik Szoboszlai are still on the summer radar.

Tonali would further strengthen Newcastle’s hand heading into the Champions League and another tough Premier League season. 

For Isak, while he knows fans will be excited to see new players through the door, supporters are yet to see him at his very best.

He said: “I had a tough first half of the season then the second part went well. I am still young and have so much in my game to develop and this team will go forward, and it can only get better.”

Isak’s style, with his rangy frame, incredible turn of pace, good balance and tricky feet have drawn some Premier League watchers to compare him to Arsenal and France legend Thierry Henry. It’s not a comparison Isak is comfortable with.

“I don’t want to talk too much about that,” he said when asked about Henry similarities. “If you can find some parts to compare to others I am happy with that. I loved watching him play with others and the type he was. I like some parts.”

NEW YORK: Eighteen-year-old Alyssa Thompson was selected Wednesday alongside veteran Megan Rapinoe and 21 others for the US roster that will vie next month to do what no country has done before — raise a third straight trophy at the Women’s World Cup.

Thompson, who has been impressive this season as a rookie for Angel City in the National Women’s Soccer League, is the youngest on the roster, while the 37-year-old Rapinoe is the oldest.

“I’ve already talked to some of the other experienced players about how we rally this group of players from ages 18 through (Rapinoe),” Forward Alex Morgan joked. “Just how we can all come together and and be incredibly fluid and go through this World Cup.”

The players were introduced with a star-studded social media post that included President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Taylor Swift, Lil Wayne and Megan Thee Stallion.

Morgan, 33, and Rapinoe will each be making their fourth World Cup appearances for the No. 1 ranked US team. Morgan stopped short of saying the Americans were the favorites going into the tournament.

“I think that at the end of the day, we already have a target on our backs coming in as reigning World Cup champs. But there’s some teams that have done incredibly well over the last four years and have made a name for themselves to compete for this trophy,” she said.

Defender Kelley O’Hara, 34, also earned a spot on her fourth World Cup squad, lending a veteran presence to shore up the backline in the absence of team captain Becky Sauerbrunn, who announced last week she won’t play in the World Cup because of a lingering foot injury.

The tournament kicks off on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand. The Americans are in Group E with Vietnam, the Netherlands and Portugal. The United States, which has won four total World Cups, opens with Vietnam on July 22 in Auckland.

“We want to do something that’s never been done before. We believe in the quality of the team and the support we have and we think we have what it takes to make it possible,” Andonovski said about the opportunity to win a third straight World Cup title.

Rapinoe is currently nursing a calf injury but she should be ready to play in the US team’s sendoff match against Wales on July 9 in San Jose, California. Andonovski said she will take on a different role than in 2019, when she scored six goals including a penalty in a 2-0 victory over the Netherlands in the final.

“She certainly is going to have different types of minutes. But her role, first from the leadership standpoint is so important, but also her performance on the field is very valuable for us,” Andonovski said.

The team has been hit by injuries in the run-up to the event. In addition to Sauerbrunn, the US will be without forward Mallory Swanson, who tore the patella tendon in her left knee. Swanson had seven goals this year before she was hurt in an April exhibition match against Ireland.

Catarina Macario, a talented forward who tore her ACL last year while playing for her French club, Lyon, did not recover in time for a spot on the team. Midfielder Sam Mewis also has a lingering injury and wasn’t available for the World Cup.

Some of the youngsters include 22-year-old Sophia Smith, who was named both the NWSL Most Valuable Player and the US

Soccer Player of the Year for 2022, and 21-year-old Trinity Rodman, US Soccer’s Young Player of the Year in 2021 and the daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman.

Thompson is the second-youngest player ever named to a World Cup roster, behind US assistant coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak, who played in the 1995 World Cup. Thompson was called onto the team in early April for a match against Ireland, taking the place of Swanson.

A surprise inclusion on the roster was 25-year-old Savannah DeMelo, who has yet to appear in a match for the United States. DeMelo plays for Racing Louisville in the NWSL, and has scored in three of her last four matches. She has five total goals this season.

DeMelo is just the third US player to be named to a World Cup squad without playing in an international level match.

“Her performance in the league was one of the biggest reasons why she’s on the team,” Andonovski said. “And based on the needs that we have in terms of the opponents and different situations that we may face, we see Sav being very important to us going forward.”

The roster by position with club affiliation:

Goalkeepers: Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

Defenders: Alana Cook (OL Reign), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Kelley O’Hara (Gotham), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign).

Midfielders: Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville FC), Julie Ertz (Angel City), Lindsey Horan (Lyon), Rose Lavelle, (OL Reign), Kristie Mewis (Gotham), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit).

Forwards: Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City), Lynn Williams (Gotham FC).