Alexander Isak has been linked with a summer move to Liverpool but Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has insisted his star forward will stay at the club.
Eddie Howe excused Alexander Isak from travelling for their friendly with Celtic to shield him from transfer speculation. Isak went home as the rest of the squad returned from an Austrian training camp on Friday but he was never earmarked to play in Glasgow.
Having been linked with a potential move to Liverpool this summer and, more recently, with Saudi club Al-Hilal, Howe is desperate to keep the forward, who netted 27 goals last season.
Asked to explain the absence of Isak and Joelinton after the 4-0 defeat, Howe said: “Both players are fit but we just felt they weren’t ready to play.
“Joe’s coming back from a long injury, so we need to make sure when he’s introduced he’s ready.
“Alex has trained this week and is fine but we didn’t want to take the risk with him. Alex was with us all the way through Austria but, with all the speculation and things that are going on, I decided to send him home.
“It’s purely the last thing Alex wants, if he’s not playing, to be sat in the stand. Being under that scrutiny, I don’t think that’s fair to the player.”
Alexander Isak celebrates scoring for Newcastle United. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Howe declared there had been no formal approach for Isak this summer but added: “It’s difficult for me to give 100 per cent clarity on any player. I’d never sit here and do that because it’s football and you never know what could happen.
“All I can say is that Alex is happy at Newcastle. He loves the players that he plays with, the staff, the team.
“I’ve never had any issue with him other than really enjoying seeing his talent and seeing him express himself. Certainly I’m confident that he’s going to be here at the start of the season.
“Your top players are so hard to find, they’re so hard to recruit, they’re so hard to develop and make them into those players. So when you have them, you need to treasure them.
“We certainly and the staff, recognise his talent and his ability. We’re of course desperate to keep him part of our team.
“Alex has been really good and he’s trained really well so far this season. So I know there’ll be lots of noise around it and I can’t really control that but from inside, he’s been really good.”
