Manager admits his team have been disrupted by the transfer saga and ‘it’s not straightforward’ to insist striker honours his contract
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lexander Isak’s old poster-boy image has been removed from the plateglass windows of Newcastle’s club store and, judging by Eddie Howe’s demeanour on Friday night, the Sweden striker could soon be erased from the attacking roll call.
Isak, currently engaged in a standoff with the club as he tries to force a move to Liverpool, was nowhere to be seen as Newcastle drew 2-2 with Espanyol in a St James’ Park friendly. Not that his absence prevented the night’s subtext being all about the man who was not there.
Afterwards Howe admitted he “does not know what the future holds” for Isak after revealing he will continue to train in isolation next week. “We’ve had discussions and it’s clear we can’t involve him in the group at the moment,” said Newcastle’s manager. “I don’t know how long that will last. He is training later than the rest of the squad.
