Updated: Dec 21, 2024, 05:04 pm

Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak bagged himself a hat trick as his side thrashed Ipswich Town 4-0 in the Premier League on Saturday, with two of the goals early Christmas gifts from the hapless home defence.

Isak opened the scoring for the visitors after 26 seconds when he snapped up an attempted clearance from Sam Morsy and sent a bouncing shot into the net, and Jacob Murphy added a second in the 32nd minute with a rasping drive as the Ipswich defence was again caught flat-footed.

An attempt to play out from the back in first-half stoppage time went disastrously wrong for Ipswich and the ball ended up at Isak's feet for him to stroke home, and the Swedish striker completed his hat trick by firing into the net after more good work by Murphy to set him up nine minutes after the break.

The Magpies had a late Dan Burn goal ruled out for offside but it made no difference to a result that jumped them from 12th to seventh in the table on 26 points, while their hosts continue to struggle as they remain in 18th place on 12 points, two behind Leicester City.