The return of the Premier League will be a new beginning for both Alexander Isak and Newcastle United.
The two parties are starting to move on from the biggest transfer saga of the summer, with Isak joining Liverpool for a British record fee on deadline day all while Newcastle United added Yoane Wissa to the addition of Nick Woltemade as they revamped their attacking options.
Still, such was the toxic nature of the saga, the dust is yet to settle.
Indeed, the forward’s refusal to play before his move to Liverpool has already cost him on the international stage.
Isak’s Sweden lost to Kosovo in a key World Cup qualifier, with the 25-year-old hardly able to feature over the international break given he last played competitively way back in May.
The most expensive player in the history of British football needs to hit the ground running, there’s little doubt about that.
With that in mind, some insight from behind the scenes and comments from Eddie Howe before Isak left Newcastle for Liverpool are interesting.
Alexander Isak and Eddie Howe embrace during a Premier League game between Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak fitness concerns
The Chronicle have now released some unseen comments from the Newcastle United manager, which were made before the record-breaking move on deadline day.
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The report adds that Newcastle had created something of a bespoke fitness plan for Isak in the event that he ended up staying at the club despite effectively downing tools.
The prospect of reintegration was often discussed before PIF gave the player the green light to move to Anfield.
It’s said that those behind the scenes at the Newcastle United training ground did not expect Isak to get fully up to speed until after October’s international break, given his lack of action throughout the summer.
They also quote Howe as saying (before the move went through): “Alex had been working individually with our sports science department and they have been getting him fit.
“But in terms of how match fit he is, and what he’s actually done, it is difficult to judge. Match fitness is very different.”
That could prove to be a blow for Liverpool, albeit they will no doubt back their medical staff to get Isak up to full fitness as quickly as possible.
Jamie Carragher’s concern about Alexander Isak fitness
Leading football pundit and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has expressed some doubts in Isak’s fitness.
Even before the Sweden star swapped St James’ Park for Anfield, Carragher wrote in The Daily Telegraph back in August: “Now 25, he is yet to prove he has the durability of Salah. He has failed to start 36 league games over his three seasons in England.”
As brilliant as Isak was at Newcastle, it’s difficult to ignore the fact he did often struggle for full fitness.
If nothing else, Wissa and Woltemade boast a better appearance record. Wissa has only missed 14 Premier League games since moving to England in 2021, while Woltemade sat out of just the one game last season due to illness.