Why Eddie Howe’s Alexander Isak Comments After Celtic Were Unhelpful

Newcastle United’s first pre-season friendly at Celtic on Saturday was always going to be an important moment. After a difficult summer in terms of incomings, with top targets seemingly forming a queue to reject moves to St James’ Park, and star striker Alexander Isak subject of enquiries from Premier League champions Liverpool, it was the first opportunity to take the temperature inside the club, and crucially speak to head coach Eddie Howe.

The upshot of a tough afternoon in Glasgow is growing pressure. Newcastle was thrashed 4-0, with Isak not involved in the squad; the Sweden striker has been training with his team-mates in Austria this week, but there is nothing particularly abnormal about an absence such as his.

Like Joelinton, who suffered with a knee injury at the end of last season, Isak was nursing a fitness problem; his groin had long been impacting his form, and there had been talk of potential surgery this summer. While that hasn’t come to pass, it stood to reason that his minutes would be managed, as was the official reason given by the club before kick off, and Howe confirmed as much after the game.

Yet, Howe’s wider quotes have only fuelled a fire around Isak that had appeared to be dwindling. He admitted Isak was sent home in part because of the speculation around his future, while adding the pair had spoken on his future and he “respected that a player’s career is short”. Without saying as much, it suggested that a widely held belief of Isak’s openness to an Anfield move was true.

While he also said Isak is “happy” at Newcastle and he is confident he’ll stay at the club this summer, that is no longer the story. Howe will have headed to Scotland hoping to ease the discourse around his talisman, but he has thrust more fuel on the fire than any leak or media report, which have been lacking in much substance this week.

“It was my decision [to send him home],” Howe told reporters.

“He travelled back to Glasgow with us but I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him. The last thing he wanted is 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.

“I’ve had discussions with him, but that’s not abnormal. 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.”

“I think it’s difficult for me to ever give 100 per cent clarity on any player, I’d never do that. All I can say is Alex is happy at Newcastle, he loves the players, the staff, the team. I’ve never had any issue with him and I’m confident he’s going to be here at the start of the season.”

Newcastle remain in control of Isak situation

There are reassuring comments about Isak’s professionalism and commitment to Newcastle. But admitting that speculation played into his thinking contradicts the club’s stance. When Liverpool enquired, the response was unequivocal; Isak was not for sale and that would only change if the player forced the issue. He hasn’t, and yet the Reds’ interest was enough to impact the selection, even in a small way. Admitting to it means what was perhaps a minimal factor will now once again drive the frustrating wider narrative Newcastle want to stop.

Howe is just being honest; he cannot be certain on any player, not just Isak. Liverpool asked about his availability and after being told to move on, duly switched attention to Hugo Ekitike, ironically a United target. With that, it appeared Newcastle had survived the sharp end of the saga and remained in control of the narrative. If Isak doesn’t push, no matter how much he may consider a move elsewhere, nothing else matters.

But Newcastle and Liverpool fans are now asking if something has happened, even if it hasn’t. Speculation had died down once Liverpool moved for Ekitike, but Howe’s comments have whipped it up again, when Newcastle has always maintained control of the situation.

Nobody has suggested Isak wants to leave Newcastle or even doesn’t want to discuss a new contract. With three years remaining on his current deal, that should be enough to kill any debate. If Newcastle’s stance on his future had softened, it would have made that clear last week when its own deal for Ekitike was progressing. But if he were to leave from this point, there would be no obvious contingency given the French striker has aligned himself so clearly with Liverpool.

Isak is no closer to joining Liverpool now than he was this morning. Howe’s comments on his happiness and love for the club carry a lot of weight and he is fully expected to be on the pre-season tour of Asia later this month.

But Newcastle are in such a position of strength, and speaking after the Celtic defeat, Howe has raised more questions than answers. Not necessarily around Isak himself, but why he hasn’t reaffirmed the club’s position of control.