Newcastle United are expected to be without Alexander Isak when they travel to Aston Villa next week
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe (left) with striker Alexander Isak
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe (left) with striker Alexander Isak
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe doesn’t expect Alexander Isak to be available for selection against Aston Villa next weekend, but he has been handed a fresh injury concern in attack following the final pre-season friendly.
Villa host the Magpies for their Premier League curtain-raiser at Villa Park on Saturday, with kick-off at 12:30 pm.
Isak wants to join Premier League champions Liverpool and has been training away from his teammates.
The Reds are expected to come back in for the striker after seeing a £110 million bid rejected a fortnight ago.
Speaking about Isak’s situation, Howe said: “We've had discussions and it's clear at the moment that we can't involve him with the group. So, yeah, I don't know how long that will be for. That's the latest.
“He's here, of course he has a future at Newcastle. Certainly from our perspective, everyone connected with the club, we would love to see him back with the team. But the situation has to be right for that time.
“I'd want Alex to be playing today. I'd want him training tomorrow. We would love the player to be with us. Let me make that absolutely clear, there is no part of me that doesn’t want that outcome. But I don’t see that changing [the current situation] before Aston Villa.”
Newcastle ended their pre-season programme with a 2–0 defeat to Atletico Madrid at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
Howe has also been dealt an injury worry ahead of the trip to Villa next weekend after Anthony Gordon was forced off towards the end of the second half.
The attacker was seen pulling up before receiving treatment on a leg issue for a couple of minutes.
Gordon went straight down the tunnel with a physio after hobbling off the pitch.
However, Howe has allayed fears that Gordon won’t be available to play against Villa, saying: "I think he's got an ankle problem. Initially, maybe he thought it was a muscle problem, but the good news is I think it was just a twist. So the initial feeling is he should be okay.”