Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has made his feelings clear on Alexander Isak and his St James' Park future
Aaron Stokes is our Newcastle United Editor. Born and bred in the north-east, Aaron left Newcastle in 2017 to work in London for Reach PLC's national titles. After five years in the capital, he returned to take up his current role at The Chronicle in March 2022.
Newcastle United's Alexander Isak
Newcastle United's Alexander Isak
There was no sugar-coating from Eddie Howe as the clock ticked towards 10.30pm on Friday evening. Fresh from watching his Newcastle United side draw 2-2 with Espanyol, without Alexander Isak, the message from the head coach was clear; the striker's continued absence is down to the player - not the manager.
"I'd want Alex to be playing today," Howe told reporters as he took one final question on the Swede's situation.
"I'd want him training tomorrow. We would love the player to be with us. Let me make that absolutely clear."
Howe, usually the protector when awkward sagas such as these arise, also moved to confirm Isak was fully fit and not suffering from a thigh injury that had reportedly plagued him earlier in the summer.
This is the strongest Howe has been on the Swede since this transfer saga began in early July.
This was a press conference in which the Newcastle boss ducked and weaved through tricky topics but offered enough in his responses to get his message across to a fanbase awaiting updates with bated breath.
The ball is, seemingly, in Isak's court. He is the one making the decision to remain exiled. Howe, as mentioned, is keen to get him back into the fold - and still believes the player has a future on Tyneside.
But this is an unusual position for the Toon chief to find himself in. Since his 2021 arrival, his squad has almost always been totally united.
Newcastle's previous tag as a stepping stone has been removed of late and each of the big-name players that arrived on these shores have grown with the club during a golden period on Tyneside.
Now, Howe is faced with the task of potentially losing an unhappy, club-record signing, knowing he may be about to strengthen a rival, with limited time to reinvest the funds on a suitable replacement.
Unfamiliar territory for the St James' Park chief.
"The group's been together since the moment I stepped through the door," Howe added. "We've had our challenges, big mountains to climb on the pitch, but we were always united off the pitch.
"It's been one of our biggest strengths, and that's why we've been successful, so it doesn't mean that we can't overcome this and come back even stronger.
"I think that's why I have to work really hard with a group of players that will fight and give everything for the football club so we use any adversity or any challenge to our benefit."
Isak, for now, is not part of that select group. He is nowhere to be seen with the Premier League opener one week away.
Liverpool have made one move for his services. They will need to make another in order for Isak to get his wish to leave Newcastle.
Howe is ready to welcome him back into the fold - but now the whole world knows the onus is on Isak to make that possibility a reality.