Tensions rise at Newcastle as forward excluded from team activities | OneFootball

Newcastle Isolate Isak Amid Ongoing Liverpool Transfer Interest

Tensions rise as Isak trains away from first team

Newcastle United’s handling of Alexander Isak has taken a significant turn, with the striker reportedly instructed to train alone and kept apart from team-mates and their families. The 25-year-old forward did not travel with the squad for their pre-season tour of Asia and has instead been training individually at the facilities of former club Real Sociedad.

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According to Sky Sports, this move came “against the wishes of Newcastle”, further widening the gap between player and club. The Mirror reports that Isak was scheduled to return to the training ground on Wednesday, but only after the players’ family day, which he was explicitly excluded from.

While Newcastle have publicly maintained their position of rejecting Liverpool’s recent bid, the decision to have Isak train in isolation suggests deeper unrest behind the scenes.

Club discipline under Howe’s leadership

Manager Eddie Howe has made his position clear, emphasising unity and standards. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Howe stated, “You have to earn the right to train with us. We are Newcastle United. The player has a responsibility here to be part of a team and part of a squad, you have to act in the right way.”

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Howe’s insistence on discipline is not without precedent, but applying it to such a high-profile player reflects how seriously the club views Isak’s actions.

Ongoing role remains uncertain

Despite the disciplinary measures, Chronicle Live reports that Isak is still scheduled to feature in upcoming friendlies against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid this weekend. If true, it points to an uneasy truce, one that could last only until Liverpool return with a stronger offer.

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With the new season just around the corner, Newcastle face a difficult choice: reintegrate a player whose conduct has reportedly fallen short or cash in before a transfer window closes that may not reopen with such high interest.

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For Newcastle supporters, this situation is edging into worrying territory. The idea of one of their best players being isolated from the team, especially at a time when pre-season chemistry is crucial, feels destabilising.

We understand Eddie Howe’s emphasis on discipline and team ethics. That’s part of what has made Newcastle a resilient, competitive unit again. But there’s also the reality that top-level players come with top-level egos and complex circumstances. Whatever has gone on behind the scenes, fans will want clarity and, more than anything, commitment.

If Isak wants out and Liverpool are knocking, they should handle it quickly and decisively. Letting it drag damages morale and leaves a hole in preparations. If he stays, then reintegrate him properly and move on. What’s not acceptable is this limbo, this drawn-out exile that benefits no one.

The player is training alone, missing team bonding events, and yet might still start in a friendly this weekend. It all feels too ambiguous. Either draw a line and move forward without him or welcome him back properly. But Newcastle United need to act, not wait.