AS Newcastle United’s club-record signing, and the first £50m-plus purchase of the new Saudi Arabia-backed era, Alexander Isak expected to be in the spotlight when he agreed to swap Real Sociedad for Tyneside last summer.

Instead, for more than three months, the Swede has found himself languishing in the shadows, sidelined through injury as his new side powered up the Premier League table.

Suffice to say, it was not how he would have planned his first year in English football, but having returned to action in Saturday’s FA Cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, Isak can at least look forward to the remainder of the campaign with a combination of anticipation and excitement. What was threatening to become a wasted season could yet turn out to be a highlight of his career so far.

“It was frustrating to be injured,” admitted Isak, ahead of this evening’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Leicester City. “When you come to a new club, you can’t really be out. But it helped a lot personally that the team has done so well and won most of the games. That helped, and gives you more room to focus on your recovery.

“It was good to get back (at the weekend). I was happy to be back. You have to take away the positive things when you lose, and it was important for me to get minutes again.”

Initially, Isak’s introduction to life on Tyneside went well. The 23-year-old scored on his debut in August’s 2-1 defeat at Liverpool – still Newcastle’s only league loss of the campaign – and had another effort controversially disallowed as he led the line in the absence of the injured Callum Wilson.

He played in the next two matches, scoring his second Magpies goal from the penalty spot in September’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth, but suffered a thigh injury while on international duty with Sweden.

At the time, it was hoped the problem would only sideline him for two or three weeks. As his recovery progressed, however, it became obvious that the issue was more serious and problematic than initially envisaged.

“I got injured back with the national team,” explained Isak, who started his career in his homeland with AIK before heading to Borussia Dortmund and then on to Real Sociedad. “It was my thigh, and it can happen that there are complications in the progress.

“I just did my best and worked as hard as possible to get back. Now, I am back, I am happy and I don’t really want to focus too much on the injury.

“It was difficult. It is something you can’t control once it has happened, but for me, it was about having to accept it and try to get fit as quick as I could. It wasn’t that quick, but I am happy now.”

The Northern Echo: Newcastle United striker Alexander IsakNewcastle United striker Alexander Isak (Image: PA)

In his absence, Isak has watched Newcastle rapidly develop from a side battling to avoid a relegation battle to a team competing for a place in the Champions League in the upper echelons of the Premier League table.

Wilson has returned from injury to establish himself as the Magpies’ first-choice centre-forward, meaning Isak’s long-term role in the side is not particularly clear.

Will he find himself competing with Wilson for the central attacking role? Could he dislodge either Joelinton or Miguel Almiron from one of the wide-attacking positions they have been filling in recent weeks in Eddie Howe’s preferred 4-3-3 system? Or might his return to fitness persuade Howe to rip up his tactical template and devise a new formation that would enable him to field a twin strike force up front?

“I am a centre-forward,” said Isak, when asked whether he preferred to play through the middle or off the side. “That is my position and where I am best, but then I think I have quite a wide game, so I could do other things as well. That is not for me to decide.”

Howe will make the final decision, although having played for the opening 45 minutes of Saturday’s defeat at Hillsborough, there is a good chance Isak will find himself on the bench when Leicester visit Gallowgate tonight.

Along with the rest of his team-mates, Isak was bitterly disappointed to crash out of the FA Cup at the weekend, so there is a shared determination to avoid a second cup exit in the space of four days.

“So many fans had travelled (to Sheffield), so we were a bit gutted that we couldn’t give them anything more,” said Isak. “It is really positive we have a new game on Tuesday to put it right for the fans. It is positive we have a new chance straight away, and I know the team wants to do it. The gaffer was pointing it out too – after a loss like the weekend, we have to bounce back.”