Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe has provided the latest update on Alexander Isak’s absence ahead of the club’s clash with Liverpool on Monday.
The Swedish forward has been pushing to join the Premier League champions this summer – with the Reds having a £110million bid rejected.
Newcastle have remained firm in their stance of refusing to sell their star man, resulting in him going on strike, and he has yet to feature in the 2025-26 season.
Once again, he is not expected to play as the Magpies welcome Liverpool to St James’ Park on Monday night in what is expected to be a fiery affair.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, he said: “There’s been no change. He wont be part of the squad for this weekend’s game.
“My preference for these things it that it doesn’t happen publicly. Everything is better dealt with behind closed doors but in this situation, needs must and in this situation the club has spoken and justifiably so in that moment.
“He is contracted to us and he is our player. My wish is that he will be playing with us on Monday and 100% I want to see him back in a Newcastle shirt.
“I have no doubt about how the players will feel. They will feel same way I do. Alex is a fantastic player, he’s a good person, a good character and a good lad.
“If Alex wanted to come back and play for us the players would welcome him.
“It’s a lose-lose situation. I don’t think we can come out of this winning in any situation.”
Gordon stepping up
With Isak still missing, the task of playing as Newcastle’s No.9 has fallen onto the shoulders of Anthony Gordon.
The England international is more accustomed to featuring in a wide position, but has Howe’s backing to play a key role while they wait for a new striker to join the club.
He added: “He has done it enough to be able to do the job really well for the team. I have played him there a number of times both as a starter and as a substitute.
“He plays it differently to other strikers but that can be a positive in the respect that he has devastating pace and a strong work ethic.
“Of course he’s scored goals historically from wide areas but also from central areas and I think you can over play the change of position and I think he enjoys the role and he played really well last week.
“He had a lot of chances and a lot of shots so I thought it was a good display from him.”
