Eddie Howe says he’s “assured” Alexander Isak will nonetheless be a Newcastle participant on the finish of the switch window however says he despatched the striker dwelling forward of the pleasant loss to Celtic due to the concentrate on the Swede’s future.
Newcastle made it clear Isak was not on the market this week when Liverpool stepped up their curiosity within the striker. The Magpies worth Isak, who scored 23 Premier League targets final season, at £150m no less than.
Arsenal have been one other membership eyeing Isak this summer time however they’re now closing in on a deal for Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres.
“It was my choice,” mentioned Howe about sending Isak dwelling. The striker wasn’t set to play within the recreation – which turned out to be a 4-0 thrashing by Celtic – as a result of Newcastle are managing his minutes at this early stage of pre-season.
“He travelled to Glasgow with us however I made a decision to ship him dwelling because of the hypothesis round him.
“The very last thing he wished was to be sat within the stand watching – that wasn’t honest to him. However I am assured he shall be a Newcastle participant come the top of the window.”
On Joelinton, who was additionally absent from the matchday squad however within the stands at Celtic, Howe mentioned: “Each gamers [Joelinton and Isak] are match. However we simply felt they weren’t able to play.
“Everybody, by pre-season, goes by totally different challenges. Joe is getting back from an extended harm so we’d like t ensure that when he is launched he is prepared.”
Celtic’s Johnny Kenny celebrates scoring towards Newcastle after Nick Pope’s error
Howe: We’ll be higher for Celtic defeat – however a lot of work to do
Reflecting on the efficiency and defeat to Celtic, Howe was relaxed with the place his Newcastle staff are, though admitted the targets conceded had been poor and there’s a lot of labor to do to rise up to hurry for the brand new season.
“We take a load from that,” he informed the membership’s media. “That was a very good check for us. The pre-season is designed to actually stretch us. We all know we have a really difficult season forward with all of the competitions we’re in.
“This was a check that perhaps got here just a little bit too early for us. We have had an extended week in Austria. Not making excuses, by the way in which, however the lads got here into the sport jaded barely. But it surely was an amazing exercise for us. Celtic performed very effectively.
“I assumed we performed effectively in phases, we created probabilities and will have scored a few targets. Total I believe the staff shall be higher for the sport.
“They’re method forward of us health sensible. It is a helpful lesson for us to study. We normally try this to different groups. The facility of our health normally reveals by in our performances. We had been on the receiving finish just a little bit, reactive somewhat than proactive. The targets we conceded had been the poorest facet of our efficiency. It wasn’t a recreation the place we had been constantly below stress we simply defended these moments poorly.
“We have a number of work to do. We all know that. We’re within the very early phases of pre-season.”
Evaluation: Newcastle loss reveals want for signings
Anthony Elanga got here on towards Celtic to make his first look for Newcastle
Sky Sports activities Information’ Keith Downie at Parkhead:
“Newcastle have been taught a little bit of a lesson immediately. I do know Celtic are forward by way of pre-season preparation – they have been again a few weeks – however there was a gulf between the groups.
“Sure, Newcastle are lacking the likes of Isak, Joelinton, Tino Livramento and Lewis Corridor, however Celtic have been streets forward.
“Newcastle followers shall be pondering that they should add extra signings – they’ve solely added Elanga thus far this summer time however on this exhibiting, they will want a couple of extra.”
