Newcastle United have a slight fitness worry heading into Saturday’s game against Fulham.
Eddie Howe‘s squad has been getting stronger and stronger, and that was highlighted by the strength of the Newcastle United bench last time out.
The Magpies beat Wolves 2-1, with Eddie Howe’s substitutes inspiring an excellent comeback.
Sandro Tonali and Joe Willock did well in midfield, while Kieran Trippier was very influential when he came on.
But the star of the show was Harvey Barnes. He was decisive at Molineux, with Barnes’ long-range screamer giving Newcastle a 2-1 victory.
Alexander Isak suffered an injury during Newcastle’s win over Wolves
His introduction came about when Alexander Isak was forced off against Wolves.
The 24-year-old received a ball to the face just before half time, and it resulted in him enduring problems with his vision and having to come off.
After the game, Eddie Howe said he hopes the injury to Isak is not serious.
That will be everyone’s hope, as Isak is a ‘game-changer’ for Newcastle when he is at his best. And right now, he is our main striker. Callum Wilson is still injured with a back problem, while Will Osula is yet to earn the trust of the Newcastle United manager.
Newcastle United training update
The club have released an update from the training ground, with Newcastle United’s official website releasing a series of images from Wednesday’s training session.
The likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon and Joe Willock are being put through their paces, as they prepare to take on Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
However, there appears to be no sign of Isak.
Newcastle’s most expensive signing ever has not been spotted in training, which is a slight concern ahead of this weekend’s trip to the capital.
However, it is not the biggest concern. There is still plenty of time for him to train ahead of the Fulham match, and the fact it was a facial injury rather than a muscle problem means there is less risk in bringing him straight back – if he is passed fit.
And just because he has not been seen in training does not necessarily mean he was not there. It might just mean the cameras have not picked him up, which may have been by design.
It is all speculation, and we await an official update from Eddie Howe when he speaks to the press on Friday.
What Newcastle will do if Isak is not fit for Fulham
But if Newcastle do have to face Fulham without Isak then Howe will have to make a change to his attack.
The likely solution would be to play Anthony Gordon through the middle. That is what happened at Molineux, even if it resulted in the 23-year-old seeing less of the ball and becoming less influential.
Alternatively, Howe could hand Osula his first Newcastle United start. He has been on the bench for every Toon game so far, but is yet to make an appearance.
It would be a shock to see the 21-year-old start, but it is certainly an option for Howe to consider.
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