Sky Sports journalist has strong message for NUFC's top stars - We absolutely agree with what he's saying

A lot of talk this week in the Newcastle United circles has been about contracts. With Anthony Gordon finally signing his new contract at the club and reports of Alexander Isak being the next one to do so.

While the Anthony Gordon deal seemed pretty straightforward despite taking a few months to get over the line, the situation with Alexander Isak seems to be a bit more murky.

There are reports that Isak will be considering his future if Newcastle fail to qualify for Europe this summer, but at the same time, noises coming from inside the club suggest they have no fear that Isak will push for a move away.

Eddie Howe addressed the speculation this morning and in doing so said that it shouldn't just be down to the club to offer new deals to keep players happy, they also need to earn them as well.

Keith Downie has laid down the law for Newcastle's big stars

Off the back of that, Sky Sports' Keith Downie has hammered that point home on his latest YouTube video and it fits in perfectly with what we said about Alexander Isak the other day, in that we don't stand much chance of qualifying for the Champions League if he doesn't buck his ideas up and start putting the ball in the back of the net.

Keith Downie lumped Isak with Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes too, who have both just been handed new contracts.

"Just looking at recent performances I would say all three of Bruno, Isak and Gordon have not been at their best and it's not helped the project.

"So don't moan, don't sulk, don't show poor body language in your performances. Get out there and knuckle down, show what got you into this position in the first place and the rest will take care of itself."

What are contracts even worth these days?

Downie was using the example for those three big players also getting moves away from the club suggesting that if that's what they want they still have to play for it rather than downing tools.

As we always say, it's all well and good these players signing new deals, but we all know these contracts aren't worth the paper they're printed on. Isak's current deal runs to 2028 - do we really think he'll still be here then? The only thing that matters is that part which outlines how much a player gets paid.

Even if he signs a deal to 2030, we don't think he'll be at Newcastle in 2028 unless we start winning trophies, but we need to buy several more players before we are at that point and we're about as prolific in the transfer market as we are in front of goal this season.