Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is keeping his cards close to his chest with regards to Alexander Isak.
The 25-year-old was forced off against Crystal Palace on Saturday, causing panic amongst Newcastle United fans. Just as Callum Wilson returned, it looked as if Alexander Isak was going to be ruled out.
But Alexander Isak did not suffer a muscle injury, as Tyneside breathed a sigh of relief.
The striker has since said he will be available to face Liverpool on Wednesday night, as the Premier League leaders head to St James’ Park.
But while Isak has stated that he plans to play against the Reds, Eddie Howe has been a bit more cryptic when it comes to Newcastle United’s most expensive signing ever.
What Eddie Howe has said about Alexander Isak
Ahead of Newcastle’s game against Liverpool, Howe has spoken to the media.
The Newcastle United manager has addressed Isak’s fitness, admitting that the Sweden international is yet to train ahead of facing Arne Slot’s side.
“He [Isak] took a knock to his hip and wasn’t able to carry on [against Palace],” he said, as reported by the Chronicle.
“We haven’t seen him in training yet but I don’t think it’s a long term injury. We’ll wait and see.
“It’ll be time and pain management – and how quickly it settles down.”
What Alexander Isak said about his fitness
While Howe has been rather conservative with his comments on Isak’s fitness, the forward has been a bit more open about his potential availability against Liverpool.
Isak told beIN Sports reporter Andy Kerr on Monday that he will be fit to face Liverpool.
“I am fine,” he said.
“It was really painful, a bad knock, but I’ve responded well.”
Who will start up front for Newcastle if Isak is not chosen
This feels like a case of Howe not wanting to give away his team selection to the media.
While Howe says that he has not seen Isak in training yet ahead of Liverpool, that is probably not as drastic as it sounds.
Newcastle’s training photos from Monday appear to suggest that those that started against Crystal Palace worked in the gym, while those that did not were on the grass.
There was no sign of Isak, but you would like to assume he will train on Tuesday before facing Liverpool on Wednesday night. Howe always speaks to the media before his side’s training session.
But if Newcastle opt not to start Isak against Liverpool, his most likely replacement would be Anthony Gordon. That is despite Callum Wilson returning to fitness, with Howe reluctant to overexpose the 32-year-old so soon after his recovery.
In truth, the most likely outcome is that Isak is in the starting XI on Wednesday night.
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