Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has ruled Sweden striker Alexander Isak out of the club’s opening 2025-26 EPL match against Aston Villa.
The striker has attracted continued interest from Liverpool, who have seen a £110 million bid rejected by Newcastle for his services.
The former Real Sociedad striker was ordered to train away from the main group after returning to the Magpies training facility on Monday.
Isak, 25, missed the club’s preseason tour of Asia and has informed the club he’s open to exploring other options this summer.
“I’d want Alex to be playing today, I’d want him training tomorrow. We would love the player to be with us – let me make that absolutely clear. There’s no part of me that doesn’t want that outcome”, Howe revealed.
“But I don’t see that changing before Aston Villa, the current situation we’re in. We’ve had discussions and it’s clear at the moment we can’t have him involved with the group.
I don’t know how long that will be for. It’s clear I can’t involve him with the team at the moment”, the Newcastle United manager added.
“He is training later than the rest of the squad. There have been discussions since the tour. I don’t think disciplinary action has happened.”
The Sweden international is yet to feature for the Magpies in preseason and missed Friday’s 2-2 draw against Spanish side Espanyol.
Howe also revealed that negotiations have continued with Liverpool for the forward, but remains optimistic about his chances of remaining beyond the summer transfer window.
“He is here, so of course he has a future at Newcastle. From our perspective, we would love to have him back with the team, but the situation has to be right for that to happen”, he continued.
“He doesn’t have a fitness issue. I’m aware of a feeling within the squad that there’s something there not to the benefit of the group.”
Newcastle United begin their 2025-26 EPL campaign against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, with the match scheduled to take place at the Villa Park on the 16th of August.
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