Eddie Howe statement on Alexander Isak as decision made on Liverpool transfer target

Fed up Newcastle boss Eddie Howe insists Alexander Isak must take responsibility after being banished to train on his own. The unsettled Swede was barred from attending a bonding session at the club’s training ground when players’ families were invited.

And Isak was told not to report in until later in the afternoon when his team-mates had left.

It is the clearest indication yet how angry Howe is with his prize asset whose dream move to Liverpool is in jeopardy with would-be replacement Bemjamin Sesko rejecting Newcastle in favour of Manchester United. The striker missed Newcastle’s Asian tour with the club saying he had a minor thigh injury and he then took himself off to his former club Real Sociedad’s training complex with Howe only finding out via the media.

READ MORE: Alexander Isak BANISHED by Newcastle and not allowed around team-mates and families

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While the Toon chief has not directly criticised Isak in public, he made it clear how irked he’s been at recent events last weekend, announcing he must earn the right to train with the squad again.

Howe said: “The player has a responsibility here to be part of a team and part of a squad and you have to act in the right way. No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal.”

And he’s followed up those words by getting tough, excluding Isak from yesterday’s family get-together and not involving him in first team training. How long the 25-year-old is forced to train on his own remains to be seen but the embattled Howe has a delicate balancing act to perform following the latest transfer target to snub Newcastle.

Unless the Magpies head coach can bring in another striker he feels is a suitable replacement, Newcastle will not consider selling Isak. At the same time, if the situation remains as it is when the transfer window shuts, Howe will have the difficult task of having to rely heavily on an unhappy player who has made it clear he no longer has a future on Tyneside.

Newcastle have friendlies against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid tomorrow night and on Saturday at St James’ Park and perhaps not surprisingly, the club have decided against holding a press conference before the two Sela Cup games.

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