Alexander Isak omitted from Newcastle squad for pre-season tour of east Asia
The striker was not in Glasgow for Newcastle's 4-0 friendly defeat against Celtic on Saturday, with Eddie Howe admitting that the speculation surrounding his future played a '10 per cent' part in that decision. Liverpool have communicated their interest in the Sweden international.
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But the head coach was adamant that, like Joelinton who was in the stands at Celtic Park, Isak's pre-season minutes were being 'managed'.
Howe insisted after the defeat to Celtic that he expected Isak to join Newcastle in Singapore and South Korea this week, but the club's squad list does not include the 25-year-old.
Isak has been nursing a minor thigh injury and has been training away from the main squad for part of this week. It was felt that a long-haul flight would be unhelpful for his rehabilitation.
However, Isak's absence will only further fuel speculation surrounding his future, even if the message from Howe and from the very top of the club is that the striker is simply not for sale this summer.
'The last thing Alex wants if he is not playing is to be sat in the stand, being under that scrutiny,' Howe said at Celtic Park. 'I don't think that's fair to the player, so if he wasn't going to play today, which we agreed, which we mutually agreed that he needs a little bit more training time, then it's best he's not here.
'For any player that (the speculation) is not an easy thing to deal with. It's not an easy thing to understand when you're fielding, no doubt from his perspective, phone calls, text messages, players and people asking him because the media now is so strong and the media message goes far and wide and that scrutiny in part, that's 10 per cent of the reason why he wasn't here.
'I just want him to focus on himself and his training ready for next week.
'I think it's difficult for me to ever give 100% clarity on any player. I'd never do that because it's football and you never know what could happen. All I can say is that Alex is happy at Newcastle. He loves the players that he plays with, the staff and the team.
'I've never had any issue with him, other than really enjoying seeing his talent and seeing him express himself. Certainly, I'm confident that he's going to be here at the start of the season.'
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Then Howe reiterated that Isak is not for sale and that everyone at the club concurs with that view.
'Absolutely, yeah, absolutely,' Howe said. 'There is no one who feels any differently. From board to staff to players. We value his qualities, as a person, so it's very strong.
'We have a few of those players who are irreplaceable because they're so hard to find, to recruit and to develop. We recognise Alex's talent and ability and we're desperate to keep him.
'Alex has been really good, he's trained really well so far this season so I know there will be lots of noise round it and I can't really control that but from inside he's been really good.'
Asked on Saturday whether Isak would travel to Asia, Howe said: 'Yeah, absolutely. He's part of our squad. At this moment in time, I expect him to come.
'We love him as a player and a person and want him to stay – and that is right through the club. He's an outstanding talent and a player we cherish.'
Newcastle are due to play Arsenal in Singapore on Sunday, before matches against a K-League XI and Tottenham Hotspur in South Korea.
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