Gary Neville makes huge St James' Park claim and exciting Alexander Isak observation

Gary Neville was blown away by the noise inside St James' Park on Sunday, claiming it was the best atmosphere he's seen in his 11 years working for Sky Sports.

The pundit revealed that there was a 'morbid' and flat feeling around the stadium when he visited during the Mike Ashley era, saying he didn't used to enjoy his trips up to Tyneside.

He won't have enjoyed Sunday, as we battered his beloved Man Utd in a blow to their top-four hopes, but he was clearly wowed by the feel-good factor around St James' Park.

Neville has also revealed how impressed he's been by Alexander Isak, believing he's "more than just a forward" with all the makings of a top quality signing.

The 48-year-old feels he has footballing intelligence and a real "brain" to go alongside his undoubted talent, praising his confidence and demeanour after interviewing the striker after last month's 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest.

Here's what he's had to say on the atmosphere at St James' Park and our star Swede:

 “When I played against Newcastle United, even beyond the Kevin Keegan years when they were going for titles, there was a big atmosphere up here and you knew you had to weather that and deal with it. It was a proper football club, a proper ground.”

“Then all of a sudden, I finished my football career and came up here for 10 years working in this capacity, it was morbid. There was no connection between the team, the fans, the players, the owners. Everybody was just low, the energy had been sapped out of the place and I don’t know how many times I said it that, actually I didn’t look forward to coming up here and that’s actually a crime, to be fair.”

“That re-emerged for me today, it’s the first time I’ve been up here for quite a while and that’s the best atmosphere I’ve seen in my days working for Sky and that’s 11 years."

Gary Neville on Alexander Isak:

“Isak, I think, is going to be quality. I think he’s more than just, if you like, a good forward.

"Things that impress me are things like when he went over to Kieran Trippier to talk to him before that free kick. He’s only 23 years of age!”

“I liked him when he came and did the interview after the game against Nottingham Forest. I’m also looking for someone who has got more than just talent; if they’ve got an intelligence to them, a brain, they think about the game, he wants to do the right things,”