Howe insists Newcastle Utd “future still open for Isak” despite fan backlash | OneFootball

Howe’s stance on unsettled striker

Eddie Howe maintains that Alexander Isak still has a route back into the Newcastle Utd side, even as frustration grows among supporters. The striker, absent from the squad for the Premier League opener against Aston Villa, continues to push for a move away. His absence was felt in a goalless draw, a match where Newcastle dominated but lacked the cutting edge to turn pressure into points.

The Magpies rejected a £110 million bid, plus add-ons, from Liverpool earlier in the transfer window. Yet Isak remains training away from the first-team and has not played since May. Howe, speaking on Sky Sports, while calling for “clarity” in the situation, underlined that reintegration is still possible.

“Nothing has changed,” Howe said when asked about the striker’s future. “The door is well and truly open. He has to decide what he wants. We would like a resolution because clarity is important. I am concentrating on the team.”

Fan frustration grows

Supporters voiced their anger at full-time, branding the forward “greedy” and directing chants during post-match interviews. Howe, however, felt the fans had conducted themselves respectfully during the match, before making their feelings known afterwards.

For many, the frustration stems from the disconnect between player and club. Isak was once a talismanic figure whose goals last season proved decisive in Newcastle’s surge towards European qualification. His role in memorable moments has left supporters bewildered at his current stance.

One fan told local media that the sight of children wearing shirts with the forward’s name was now “bittersweet”, given his ongoing push for an exit. This backdrop has raised doubts over whether he could be welcomed back, regardless of Howe’s openness to his return.

Tactical reshuffle highlights absence

Without their leading striker, Newcastle shifted Anthony Gordon into a central role, supported by Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga. The experiment had moments of promise, particularly when Gordon forced Ezri Konsa’s dismissal, but Newcastle lacked the clinical edge Isak has consistently provided.

The statistics underline his significance. Newcastle have failed to score in four consecutive Premier League games without him and are winless in their last six when he has been absent. His tally of 23 league goals last season remains a stark reminder of what they are currently missing.

Gordon suggested post-match that he sees himself developing into a central forward in the future, but the immediate challenge for Howe is clear: finding a reliable solution if Isak departs, or managing a difficult reintegration if he stays.

Uncertain road ahead

Howe’s comments suggest he would welcome the striker back without hesitation, yet the relationship between player and supporters may be harder to repair. Newcastle face a delicate balance between protecting their squad harmony and making a decisive call on one of their most valuable assets.

For now, the uncertainty lingers. Howe continues to present a united front, praising his side’s resilience and togetherness, but privately he must know the longer the situation drags on, the harder it will be to draw a line under it. Newcastle’s ambitions this season may well hinge on how swiftly clarity is found over Isak’s future.