Alexander Isak sees room for improvement despite Newcastle's strong start

The Magpies are one of three sides, Brighton and Arsenal are the others, sitting on seven points after three games with only champions Manchester City and Liverpool having managed a full nine.

However, all seven have have been hard-fought after 10 men battled to a 1-0 home win over Southampton before a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth and Sunday's smash and grab raid against Tottenham, which secured a 2-1 victory.

Asked if there was more to come, Sweden international striker Isak told NUFC TV: "Yes, for sure.

"Results-wise we've done well; performance-wise we can do much better, which can be a good feeling as well since we've had good results."

Sunday's result came despite Eddie Howe once again having to field full-back Emil Krafth in central defence in the absence of the suspended Fabian Schar and injured duo Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles.

Spurs dominated for long periods and, but for the efforts of keeper Nick Pope and the unity of the defence in front of him, the result might have been very different for a side which was crying out for the kind of potency injured summer signing Dominic Solanke might otherwise have provided.

In the event, it was the Magpies who took the lead when Harvey Barnes deftly steered Lloyd Kelly's inviting cross past keeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Although Dan Burn's second-half own goal gave the visitors a platform from which to go on and win the game, Isak did just that for the hosts after Joelinton and substitute Jacob Murphy had combined decisively.

Isak said: "Everyone works really hard. Even when the opposition dominates parts of the game, it's almost like we refuse to concede or refuse to lose, which is a strong sign."

In truth, Newcastle were still far from their fluent best and rode their luck at times, but head coach Howe is confident returning fitness will bring fresh impetus.

He said: "What this does do hopefully is it will give us confidence, give us the ability to see ourselves as a very good team, one that can get better and improve as the season goes on. I still think we're short fitness-wise, I think that's clear to seeâ¦"

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou left Tyneside happy with much of what he had seen but bemoaning a lack of precision up front and perhaps organisation at the back.

The Australian was nevertheless impressed with the contribution of 22-year-old defender Radu Dragusin, drafted in for the injured Micky Van de Ven.

Postecoglou said: "I thought he was good, Radu. It was a great opportunity to expose him.

"He's only 22. He's still a young man, especially for a defender and I thought exposing him to this atmosphere and the threat, the particular threat that Newcastle posed with Isak up front, he had to be really concentrated and I thought he was.

"I think he's going to play a big part in our season. Him coming through that, that whole experience, will set him up well."

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