ALEXANDER ISAK must earn the right to train with Newcastle’s first team again, claims boss Eddie Howe.
The Swede, 25, missed the Toon’s Asia tour amid strong interest from Liverpool.
3
3
Newcastle initially put Isak’s absence down to a minor thigh injury.
But it later emerged that the prolific striker wanted to leave St James’ Park.
Isak trained alone at former club Real Sociedad earlier this week, but is believed to have returned to Tyneside over the weekend after Liverpool had a £110million bid rejected.
The forward has not been involved since being sent home from Glasgow ahead of the Toon’s clash with Celtic on July 19, amid transfer speculation.
Following his side’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham in South Korea, boss Howe was asked if Isak will return to team training next week.
The Magpies boss said: “You have to earn the right to train with us.
“We are Newcastle United. The player has a responsibility here to be part of a team and part of a squad – you have to act in the right way. So that is also at play here.
“We will make sure that any player does that to earn the right to train with the group.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
“No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal.”
According to the Mail, Liverpool will likely return with a second bid for Isak when Newcastle close in on a replacement.
The Toon are competing with Manchester United for the signature of RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko, having launched a £70m bid for the Slovenian earlier this week.
Howe, 47, also admitted that he has not spoken to Isak while away in Asia.
Addressing Isak’s future, the Newcastle boss said: “Of course I’d like him to be (at training next week), but whether he will I don’t know at this moment in time.
“We have been here with the time difference, preparing for training and for games. Other people have been dealing with that situation back at home.”
After jetting back from Asia today, Newcastle will return to action on Friday night, when they host Espanyol at St James’ Park.
On Saturday they will then welcome Atletico Madrid to Tyneside, and it remains to be seen whether Isak will feature in either game.
3
TRANSFER NEWS LIVE – KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW
In addition to Sesko, Newcastle have also been linked with Brentford star Yoane Wissa.
The Bees ace is keen on a move to St James’ Park, with boss Keith Andrews saying earlier today: “The situation is that he is training at the training ground.
“It’s probably public knowledge at this stage that he left our training camp in Lisbon. That was probably the right decision for all parties. We had to support him in what is a difficult time for him.
“I think we have to remember that it’s not just about being a footballer, it’s the person and the human being first.
“Again, it’s public knowledge that there is some interest in Wiss. We have to respect that and respect him.
“I have got a really good relationship with Yoane from last season and that’s still the case now, but obviously it’s not ideal.”
