Anthony Gordon has provided a glimpse inside the Newcastle United dressing room
Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United (10) claps the fans
Anthony Gordon has rejected any notion that the Newcastle United dressing room is suffering due to the ongoing speculation centred around Alexander Isak.
Eddie Howe openly admits the Swede's continued exile has been a distraction for his senior side but has also insisted his players are professional enough to soldier on without the 25-year-old playing a part.
United did indeed battle hard in Isak's absence on Saturday, taking a well-earned point away from Villa Park on the opening weekend.
Gordon led the line with Isak watching on from home, earning a red card for Villa defender Ezri Konsa as he made a smart second-half run in behind.
Speaking at full-time, when quizzed on Isak's absence and the effect it has had on the group, the former Everton man offered a supremely confident assessment of the togetherness of Howe's dressing room.
"It has been difficult because we're such a tight-knit group," Gordon told TNT Sports. "We've never really had any problems publicly and that being the first thing that has happened has tested us.
"But you see today, we still have that spirit and that togetherness. We work on it every day. That is never going to go regardless of individuals. We're a top group, our togetherness is top and it always will be.
"It can do [bring the group closer together] but we're still together anyway. Things like things can sort of us test you and make you better in the end - and I think that is going to be the case."
United this weekend proved they are shutting out any outside noise regarding Isak and his future but the Magpies did look a tad toothless as they got their Premier League campaign up and running.
Newcastle had 16 shots on goal but only three on target, with the lack of a clear scoring presence evident in the west Midlands.
Howe continues to insist additional attacking reinforcements will be brought in but the boss continues to leave the door open for Isak, should he wish to return to the fold.
"Nothing has changed - but the door is well and truly open (for Isak)," he told reporters at Villa Park. "But he has to decide what he wants to do.
"We would like a resolution, when I say we I am talking about myself and the ownership, the players we have, we need that clarity.
"This season, any Premier League season is hard enough, you don't need any type of distraction to swerve your thoughts and unbalance what we are doing.
"I am certainly not in control of that, there is only one person who is in control of that."