Every game is a big one for Newcastle United these days.
While the meetings to come with Crystal Palace and Wolves perhaps do not whet the appetite quite as much as mouth-watering clashes against Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United and Arsenal also on the calendar, there is a huge amount of expectation on Newcastle.
Indeed, they will be expected to beat the teams with fewer resources than them as well as take the fight to the clubs with bigger names.
With that in mind, Eddie Howe needs his full squad available, particularly his strikers. Without those, the job gets an awful lot harder.
So it was hardly good news that Alexander Isak came off injured during the draw at West Ham and duly pulled out of the Sweden squad over the international break.
Callum Wilson, meanwhile, has been suffering with a hamstring injury himself.
None of that makes for particularly pleasing reading heading into Saturday’s game with Crystal Palace and Howe has now provided an update.
Alexander Isak: Newcastle injury latest
Speaking at Friday’s pre-match press conference (via BBC Sport’s LIVE blog at 10.25am), Howe said: “Alex hasn’t trained with us yet so we’re going to leave it late to see if he’s fit and available.”
Opinion: Why Howe can’t risk Isak for Newcastle
Not only are there huge games against Dortmund, Man United and Arsenal to come, Isak has previous when it comes to missing large chunks of the season.
Last time out, he missed 14 games for the club across all competitions. Howe simply cannot afford for that to happen again, given the level of expectation at St James’ Park.
It, of course, would be tempting to turn to Isak if he can play considering his “magnificent’ performance against West Ham before the break.
Still, long-term, it does not seem a wise idea. There are huge tests to come and they need to be careful with their star striker.
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