Alexander Isak not part of Newcastle squad for pre-season friendlies in Asia

Alexander Isak has not travelled with his Newcastle teammates for their pre-season friendlies in Asia. The club said the striker, who had been a target for Liverpool, had a minor thigh injury.

Newcastle play Arsenal in Singapore on Sunday before travelling to South Korea to face a K League XI and Tottenham. Isak was the only notable absentee named by Newcastle, who have taken a squad of 30 players.

The Swede missed last Saturday’s friendly at Celtic after a training camp in Austria. Eddie Howe said then of Isak’s absence: “It was my decision. He travelled back to Glasgow with us but I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him. The last thing he wanted is to be sat in the stand watching, that wasn’t fair to him. But I’m confident he will be a Newcastle player come the end of the window.”

Newcastle have repeatedly reiterated their determination to keep Isak and any prospect of the 25-year-old joining Liverpool this summer appears over after the Premier League champions signed Hugo Ekitiké. Liverpool were willing to pay a British record transfer fee to make Isak their new No 9.

Newcastle also bid for Ekitiké, prompting intensified speculation that Isak could be heading for the St James’ Park exit, but the club maintained Howe’s plan was to play Isak alongside Ekitiké. Newcastle have been exploring, among other options, a potential attempt to recruit Brentford’s Yoane Wissa to alternate between partnering and understudying Isak.

Isak is contracted to Newcastle until 2028 and has, so far, indicated no great enthusiasm for an extended deal, which makes it seem likely he will seek a move next summer at the latest.

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Howe, pressed on Isak’s future after the Celtic game, said: “It’s difficult for me to give 100% clarity on any player. Alex is happy at Newcastle, he loves the players, the staff, the team. I’m confident he’ll be here at the start of the season. Yes, I’ve had discussions with him but that’s not abnormal. I respect a player’s career and how short it is. Alex has been really good, he’s trained really well and I realise there’ll be noise around him.”

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