Eddie Howe shares how Alexander Isak felt about ‘mutual’ Newcastle United agreement

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Eddie Howe has admitted he and Alexander Isak agreed it would be best if the Newcastle United striker was sent home from Saturday’s defeat to Celtic.

Isak was not at Newcastle’s loss to Celtic as Eddie Howe’s side began pre-season in the worst possible manner. 

Indeed, Celtic thrashed Newcastle 4-0 and while results are not the most important thing in the world at this stage, it was still a miserable day.

Not only were the limitations of the Newcastle United squad laid bare, their star striker wasn’t even in attendance. Liverpool want to sign Isak, who still has three years left on his contract at St James’ Park. 

Howe confirmed Isak had been sent home from Celtic Park, but the Newcastle United manager later went into further detail. 

• READ MORE: What Eddie Howe did immediately after Celtic thrashed Newcastle United

Alexander Isak agreed he should miss Newcastle United’s game against Celtic  

Speaking after the game, Howe admitted that he and Isak had come to a mutual agreement that he should be sent home.

While Howe thinks Isak will go on a pre-season tour with Newcastle next week and there are claims the club were simply managing his minutes, Howe did not want him to have to sit in the stands amid so much talk about his future.

“Yes I’ve had discussions with him, but that’s not abnormal. I respect a player’s career and how short it is,” he said.

“Alex has been really good, he’s trained really well and I realise there’ll be noise around him.

“I chose to send him home. The last thing Alex wants if he is not playing is to be sat in the stand and under that scrutiny, then if he wasn’t going to play today, we mutually agreed he shouldn’t be here.”

Whether Alexander Isak is happy at Newcastle United amid Liverpool links

Isak has previously confirmed he’s happy at Newcastle, though those comments made to Swedish media came some months before Liverpool made their move. 

There have been suggestions that Isak is open to joining the Reds this summer but, frankly, it would be a surprise if he wasn’t. 

Being open to a move is very different from forcing one.

After the Celtic game, Howe did confirm Isak was still happy at Newcastle. 

“Alex is happy at Newcastle, he loves the players, the staff, the team. I’m confident he’ll be here at the start of the season,” he said.

What happens next, however, is unclear.