‘Unknown' whether Alexander Isak plays crucial final game against Everton, says Eddie Howe
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe is unsure whether striker Alexander Isak will be fit to play against Everton on the final day of the season.
The Sweden international was left of the squad for Newcastle's 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday with a groin issue.
Newcastle, third in the table with 66 points, need a win at home against Everton to guarantee a top five spot and qualification for next season's Champions League. Chelsea and Aston Villa both also have 66 points while Manchester City, who have a game in hand, and Nottingham Forest are on 65.
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Howe said after the Arsenal game that Isak had been for a scan earlier in the day and was deemed not fit to play.
'That's unknown,' he said when asked if Isak would be available to feature against Everton. 'I don't know at this moment in time. He only felt pain really after training. He felt fine during training and then just a bit of stiffness really.
'He went for a scan this morning really purely as a precaution. But then it became obvious he wasn't going to be fit to play. So I don't know. I think a lot will depend on how he reacts in the next few days.
'He's had a couple of groin issues off either side. I think this is one that he had earlier in the season.'
Howe said he did not believe that it was an issue that would require surgery but added that 'it certainly probably needs looking at as to why he's getting these groin complaints.'
Isak has missed four Premier League games this season, with Newcastle failing to win or score from open play in any of them. The 25-year-old has been vital for Howe's side this campaign, scoring 23 goals and providing six assists in the league. Callum Wilson started in his place against Arsenal and was later replaced by William Osula.
Is it too simplistic to say that Newcastle's result against Arsenal might have been different with Isak on the pitch? Possibly; chances came and went at the Emirates Stadium, but some of them were repelled by brilliant goalkeeping. In that respect, it was one of those days.
Yet Isak is a game-changing, match-winning centre-forward, even when half-fit. He has been troubled by a groin injury for weeks now, but he has kept scoring goals, which is the hallmark of a top-quality striker.
Without him, Newcastle have not won any of their four league matches this season. Nor have they scored from open play. In those circumstances, the prospect of him missing the final game of the season is not a delightful one.
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They have also been here before. When Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall, Newcastle's first-choice left side, were ruled out of the Carabao Cup final, if felt like the roof was caving in. Tino Livramento and Harvey Barnes had other ideas.
This has been a season of heroes, of pulling back from the brink, of rising to the occasion and creating history. Just one more match to go, with or without their talismanic striker.
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