EDDIE Howe admits Newcastle United's players have been affected by Alexander Isak's situation, with the head coach sensing a "feeling around the group".
Isak is training alone after making it known he wished to explore his options amid Liverpool's transfer interest and failed first bid for the striker.
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Howe last night said "it's clear at the moment we can't involve him with the group" and the head coach admitted he doesn't expect the striker to be involved in next week's Premier League opener at West Ham.
With Newcastle having so far failed to strengthen their forward line with a new striker this summer, Will Osula led the line in last night's 2-2 draw with Espanyol and Anthony Gordon is expected to take up the role in this afternoon's game against Atletico Madrid.
Isak, meanwhile, will continue to train alone, and Howe admits the striker's situation has had an impact on his teammates.
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“I think the group has been disrupted, of course, but I think whenever you have a player in this situation, it's unsettling for the team," he said.
“I don't think we've been in that position since I've been here, the harmony and togetherness of the group has been at its highest, so I think naturally it's just been a topic of conversation, it's been a distraction and the biggest hit we've taken is we're not blessed with a number of players in his position, so I think you've seen a big gap.
“But I have to say, big credit to the players because they've got on with their work, training has been of a really high level.
"I haven't seen a negative output on the pitch, but I have been aware of a feeling around the group that there's something there that's not to the benefit of the group."
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Howe has stressed the power of unity ever since his Newcastle arrival, and this current situation is a new challenge for the head coach on Tyneside.
"As I said, the group's been together since the moment I stepped through the door," he said.
"We had our challenges, we had 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, and I think that's what I have to work really hard on with a group of players that will fight and give everything for the football club, that we use any adversity or any challenge to our benefit."