There is increasing uncertainty about Alexander Isak’s Newcastle future, despite head coach Eddie Howe insisting he is “confident” the striker will stay at the club this summer.
Isak was not in the Newcastle matchday squad on Saturday and had never been scheduled to play in what turned out to be a 4-0 thrashing by Celtic. That is because Newcastle are managing his minutes at this early stage of pre-season.
They are taking the same approach with Joelinton, as he returns from a long-term injury. However, the Brazilian was in the stands at Celtic Park to watch his team-mates, while Isak was sent home by Howe "due to the speculation around him".
Liverpool stepped up their interest in Isak this week and were told by Newcastle he is not for sale. Newcastle value the frontman - who scored 23 Premier League goals last season - at £150m at least. Arsenal have been another club eyeing Isak this summer but they are now closing in on a deal for Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres.
On the call to send Isak home ahead of the Celtic friendly, Howe said: "It was my decision. He travelled to Glasgow with us but I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him.
"The last thing he wanted was to be sat in the stand watching - that wasn't fair to him. But I'm confident he will be a Newcastle player come the end of the window."
Howe described Isak as "irreplaceable" in his post-match press conference and said: "Your top players are so hard to find, so hard to recruit and so hard to develop. So when you have them, you need to treasure them. Of course we're desperate to keep him as part of our team."
Howe also said he had spoken with Isak about his future - and insisted the Sweden international remains focused on performing for Newcastle. "Yes, I've had discussions with him, but that's not abnormal," said Howe. "I respect a player's career and how short it is. Alex has been really good, he's trained really well and I realise there'll be noise around him."
However, Sky Sports News North East reporter Keith Downie, who covered the game, says the events on Saturday and comments of Howe suggest Isak has been impacted by the transfer talk.
"It was a big decision from Eddie Howe today to leave Alexander Isak out of the squad," he said.
"That to me clearly shows that Isak is affected by the speculation, by the informal approach by Liverpool. Eddie said that there was no formal approach which insinuates there was an informal approach.
"The fact he sent him home, it might be seen as a good piece of management in the future. But it suggests to me Isak is affected by what's gone on this last week. It's going to be really interesting to see where it goes from here.
"I have to say, from what's happened today and listening to him afterwards, I think there's a question mark over Isak's Newcastle future.
"The most galling thing for the Newcastle United fans is if he does leave they are left without a recognised striker. They don't even have a back-up. So they'll be looking for two strikers, not just one.
"Eddie says Isak will travel to Singapore for the pre-season tour and that he's confident he will stay.
"Eddie is going to have to use all his powers of man management to ensure Isak's head is in the right place to remain at Newcastle this season for a double pursuit on the Premier League and Champions League."
On Joelinton, who was also absent from the matchday squad but in the stands at Celtic, Howe said: "Both players [Joelinton and Isak] are fit. But we just felt they weren't ready to play.
"Everyone, through pre-season, goes through different challenges. Joe is coming back from a long injury so we need to make sure when he's introduced he's ready."
Howe: We'll be better for Celtic defeat - but lots of work to do
Reflecting on the performance and defeat to Celtic, Howe was relaxed with where his Newcastle team are, although admitted the goals conceded were poor and there is a lot of work to do to get up to speed for the new season.
"We take a load from that," he told the club's media. "That was a really good test for us. The pre-season is designed to really stretch us. We know we've got a very challenging season ahead with all the competitions we're in.
"This was a test that maybe came a little bit too early for us. We've had a long week in Austria. Not making excuses, by the way, but the lads came into the game jaded slightly. But it was a great workout for us. Celtic played very well.
"I thought we played well in phases, we created chances and should have scored a couple of goals. Overall I think the team will be better for the game.
"They're way ahead of us fitness-wise. It's a useful lesson for us to learn. We usually do that to other teams. The power of our fitness usually shows through in our performances. We were on the receiving end a little bit, reactive rather than proactive. The goals we conceded were the poorest aspect of our performance. It wasn't a game where we were consistently under pressure we just defended those moments poorly.
"We've got a lot of work to do. We know that. We're in the very early stages of pre-season."
Analysis: Newcastle loss shows need for signings
Sky Sports News' Keith Downie at Parkhead:
"Newcastle have been taught a bit of a lesson today. I know Celtic are ahead in terms of pre-season preparation - they've been back a couple of weeks - but there has been a gulf between the teams.
"Yes, Newcastle are missing the likes of Isak, Joelinton, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, but Celtic have been streets ahead.
"Newcastle fans will be thinking that they need to add more signings - they've only added Elanga so far this summer but on this showing, they'll need a few more."
