ALEXANDER Isak will report for training alone at Newcastle United later today, with the striker excluded from a family day at the club's training ground amid Eddie Howe's disappointment at the Liverpool target's conduct and continued uncertainty over his future
At the weekend, Howe warned of the need to "earn the right" to train with Newcastle's first team, and in the first session back at the club's Benton base since the return from Asia, Isak, who wants to move to Liverpool, was told to stay away.
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The Swedish striker will also play no part in the family bonding day, with Howe having invited partners and children of the players to spend the afternoon at the club's training ground.
It's not the first time Howe has organised such an event at the training ground, but the timing feels significant on the back of an extremely frustrating summer transfer window for the Magpies and amid the current situation with Isak.
Isak spent Monday and Tuesday training alone at Benton, and that will again be the case on Wednesday late afternoon. It's not clear whether he'll be reintegrated ahead of this weekend's friendlies against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid at St James' Park.
Howe is next due to speak to the media after Friday night's game.
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The head coach said at the weekend: “You have to earn the right to train with us. We are Newcastle United.
“The player has a responsibility here to be part of a team and part of a squad – you have to act in the right way. So that is also at play here.
“We will make sure that any player earns the right to train with the group. No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal.”
The latest development comes with Newcastle braced to miss out on yet another leading target this summer, with Benjamin Sesko seemingly bound for Manchester United.
Newcastle had a club record offer accepted by RB Leipzig but Sesko has indicated his desire to move to Old Trafford, and Manchester United are now working to come to an agreement with the Bundesliga club.
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That will have an impact on Isak's situation, with Newcastle unwilling to sell the striker until they have a replacement in place. The Magpies are still hopeful of reaching an agreement to sign Yoane Wissa but the Brentford striker was never intended to be a replacement for Isak.
Liverpool are expected to return with an improved offer for Isak if and when Newcastle source a replacement, with the Premier League champions having now reached an agreement with Al Hilal to sell Darwin Nunez for a deal that could be worth €65m.