Sean McCormick is a football writer covering Newcastle United for ChronicleLive. After starting his career covering North East sport, he has had a spell working as an editor on the Manchester Evening News. He also writes about darts and boxing. He joined us in 2016.
Alexander Isak of Sweden
Alexander Isak of Sweden(Image: Damjan Zibert/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Alexander Isak's long protracted move to Liverpool from Newcastle United was the major story of the summer transfer window.
Isak effectively went on strike during the summer, refusing to play and train with his team-mates as he tried to force a move to Liverpool.
After much public toing and froing, Isak finally got his wish on transfer deadline day as he joined the Reds in a British record transfer after Newcastle secured the forward arrivals of both Yoane Wissa and club record signing Nick Woltemade.
The issue now for Isak is getting back up to match fitness ahead of a crucial run of fixtures for the Premier League champions. That started this week when he met up with the Sweden national team but things haven't quite gone to plan.
Sweden head coach, and former Newcastle striker, Jon Dahl Tomasson was reticent to throw Isak straight into the starting line-up given he wasn't in peak physical condition after missing the majority of Newcastle's pre-season.
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And that has cost his country dearly as they have got off to a disastrous start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Sweden have been drawn in a group with Switzerland, Slovenia and Kosovo, with only the group winners securing automatic qualification to next summer's showpiece in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
The runners-up head into the play-offs with 15 other nations, with only four teams winning through to join the group winners as UEFA's representatives in the competition.
Most observers anticipated a straight fight between Sweden and Switzerland for top spot in the group but Tomasson's side already find themselves five points adrift of the Swiss after just two matches.
Isak didn't play at all on Friday as Sweden conceded a last minute equaliser against Slovenia as they played out a 2-2 draw in Ljubljana. He was then brought on from the bench on Monday as Sweden succumbed to a shock 2-0 defeat to group minnows Kosovo in Pristina.
His 18 minute cameo saw him pick up a yellow card and fail to inspire a Sweden comeback and it is hard to argue that his actions this summer could well cost them a place in next summer's World Cup.
Switzerland beat both Kosovo and Slovenia with ease and are in a commanding position ahead of the two sides facing each other twice in the coming months.
Sweden have four games to turn it around and will be confident of still being able to secure at least a play-off place.
But a lot of the chat surrounding Isak's move to Liverpool highlighted the importance of this season being a World Cup year for the 25-year-old and his country.
But him not being in a good enough condition to start their opening two group matches has certainly not helped their cause and there is now every chance they could miss out on the competition.