Alexander Isak missed Newcastle’s Premier League loss in opposition to Liverpool final week however was named within the group in opposition to Brighton & Hove Albion within the FA Cup fifth spherical on Sunday.
Newcastle misplaced in additional time on what proved a expensive afternoon at St James’ Park, the place a pink card for Anthony Gordon dominated him out of the Carabao Cup closing . Isak , who scored the sport’s first aim from the penalty spot, was substituted after receiving remedy.
Supervisor Eddie Howe advised reporters that it was a matter of “basic tightness” slightly than any recurrence of his earlier groin damage however rumours about his health forward of the Magpies’ Wembley closing had been rife.
Alexander Isak could also be obtainable for Newcastle’s go to to West Ham
Alexander Isak (Picture credit score: PAUL ELLIS/AFP through Getty Photographs))
The affect of Gordon’s suspension is exacerbated by Lewis Corridor’s damage. The total-back has broken a bone in his foot and has been dominated out till the tip of the season.
Hope of Isak being concerned at Wembley have been boosted by the information that the Swedish striker, who was ranked at no.2 in FourFourTwo’s record of the perfect strikers on the planet proper now , has skilled forward of Monday’s Premier League sport in opposition to West Ham United and was made obtainable to media forward of the Carabao Cup closing.
Eddie Howe advised media that Isak felt “basic tightness” in opposition to Brighton (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
There’s been no affirmation of Isak’s standing this weekend however each indication is that Howe’s post-match feedback had been correct and any lingering points will likely be eased by the additional restoration days earlier than Newcastle head for the London Stadium on Monday evening.
With the Carabao Cup closing six days later and Callum Wilson obtainable to deputise – for now, at the least – Howe does have the choice of giving Isak the evening off as a substitute of thrusting his straight again into the West Ham sport.
That’s no simple selection. Newcastle have designs on a Champions League place however sit in sixth place within the Premier League, three factors behind Manchester Metropolis in fourth.
Wilson is a confirmed scorer at Premier League stage however Isak has scored 19 objectives in 24 league appearances this season and is provably the simplest marksman within the division from open play, topping the rankings for non-penalty objectives per 90 minutes.
Alexander Isak is now the Premier League’s main Swedish aim scorer (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Relying on earlier outcomes elsewhere, Newcastle could possibly be outdoors the confirmed European locations and unable to climb larger than sixth by the point they tackle West Ham in Premier League motion on Monday.
The margins are tight on the eve of an enormous week for Newcastle and Howe has a tough name to make if Isak is on the market for choice.
March is a quiet month for Premier League fixtures and Newcastle’s FA Cup exit took one other sport off the schedule, however the Magpies will likely be acutely aware that Sweden have two friendlies to come back within the house of 4 days.
Isak’s availability for these is more likely to be a bone of rivalry between membership and nation.
