Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has confirmed that Alexander Isak remains out of contention for Monday's Premier League showdown with Liverpool at St James' Park.
The Sweden international remains unwavering in his desire to leave the Magpies for the Reds and **recently hit out at the club for alleged broken promises**after they rejected a Premier League-record bid from the champions.
Newcastle, meanwhile, insist that no such exit pact was ever made between the player and the club, and he remains out in the cold while all parties seek a resolution in the final week of the transfer window.
Rather than select a like-for-like replacement in Will Osula, Howe opted for Anthony Gordon to spearhead the attack in last weekend's showdown with Aston Villa, where Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga flanked the one-time Liverpool youngster.
That formula proved fruitless in a goalless draw with the 10-man Lions, but Howe will more than likely persist with the same front three, as new signing Jacob Ramsey will most likely start on the bench.
The hosts should also have Joe Willock back from the calf injury he sustained in pre-season, but Howe has no reason to alter the familiar midfield trio of Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, set to sport the captain's armband once again.
The Magpies boss is not short of options further back, where Sven Botman, Lewis Hall and new signing Malick Thiaw are all waiting in the wings, but the settled quartet of Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn and Tino Livramento should line up in front of Nick Pope once more.
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Elanga, Gordon, Barnes
> Click here to see how Liverpool could line up for this game
ID:579895:1false2false3false: from db desktop :LenBod:collect3184:
No Data Analysis info