'On a different level': Paul Merson waxes lyrical about Alexander Isak as he predicts who will win on Saturday - NUFC or ITFC

Newcastle United go into Saturday's 3pm kick-off at Portman Road to face Ipswich Town off the back of two excellent home wins and will be hoping to carry those performances with them on the road.

At St James' Park, Newcastle are a different animal, but now that the team are starting to click once again, Eddie Howe must ensure that his players perform in a similar fashion on the road.

Ipswich should be the ideal test for that as they are struggling to adapt to the Premier League but are, at the same time, not exactly push-overs.

It's one of those games that Newcastle will be expected to win comfortably, but those have been the games where the Magpies have fallen short this season.

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Paul Merson was more fixated on Alexander Isak than the actual game

Writing his prediction for Sportskeeda, Paul Merson backs the Magpies to get the points but seems to be more focused on insisting that Alexander Isak should be at Arsenal. Good old cockney entitlement rears its head again.

"It was a brilliant result for Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Brentford. It's quite amazing they are with these top teams in the last four of that competition. When Newcastle have all their players fit and on the pitch, they are a really good team.

"So they must focus on it and if they manage to do that, they will end up being a threat to any team in this division. I said this about Alexander Isak at the start of the season and I'm not changing it, if Arsenal got him it would have been the icing on the cake.

"I know Gabriel Jesus scored a hat-trick in the cup game. But Isak is on a different level. He's a very good player and could have caused massive problems to other teams if Arsenal got him.

"Ipswich managed to pull off an incredible win last weekend against Wolves. They are nicking results here and there and are hanging on in the race to avoid relegation. That's exactly what they should keep doing as well, but I just think Newcastle will have too much quality for them on Saturday.

"Prediction: Ipswich Town 1-2 Newcastle United"

Both sides will have key players missing through suspension on Saturday

Thanks for the positive prediction, Merson, but kindly accept the fact that Alexander Isak is a Newcastle United player and move on. Cheers.

Newcastle will be without 'Scarface' Joelinton on Saturday who serves a one-game suspension, similarly for Ipswich, their striker Liam Delap will also miss the game.

If Newcastle can put together a similar performance to the ones against Leicester and Brentford then this should be an away win for the Magpies.