Newcastle United kicked off their Premier League campaign with a goalless draw at Aston Villa, with wantaway striker Alexander Isak, desperate to join Liverpool, conspicuous by his absence
Eddie Howe admits Alexander Isak’s future is up to the wantaway Newcastle striker. The Toon felt the absence of Isak, who is desperate to join Liverpool, in their Premier League curtain-raiser at Aston Villa as they were held to a goalless draw against 10 men.
Isak was left out by Howe as the Sweden international tries to force a move away from St James’ Park, with Liverpool seeing a bid rejected earlier in the summer. Howe reiterated his stance that the door remains open for Isak to be reintegrated into the squad if he wants to be but knows only the player is in control.
“I’m certainly not in control of that,” Howe said. “And I think there’s only one person really that could control that. Nothing’s changed. But he has to decide what he wants to do.
“I mean, that’s the quickest way. But of course, Alex is in control of what he does. I’m not in control of him. I hope it’s resolved quickly, because it’s news around us all the time. Players have managed to shut that out and perform. We have to continue to do that. We have to cope without the narrative against us.”
Howe refused to speculate on whether the Magpies would have beaten Villa with Isak in the team, having failed to score when playing against 10 men for over half-an-hour.
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“I don’t think it’s the narrative we want to go down, because it’s easy to say, but you’ve got no way of knowing if that’s the case,” he said. “Of course, you’re going to miss someone that scored the goals that Alex has, and not just the goals, but the calibre of player that he is.
“So we’re not silly enough to think any different, but we just have to look and talk about the players that are here and what they’ve given today. It’s very easy for the players to have a feeling of negativity going into the game or an excuse they’re ready, but there was no sign of that in our performance.”
The draw meant Villa will now go more than a calendar year without home defeat in the Premier League. They were in the ascendency when Ezri Konsa was dismissed for hauling down Anthony Gordon when the Newcastle forward was through on goal. But they held firm with 10 men and never really looked like conceding.
“We are not happy when we are losing two points at home,” boss Unai Emery said. “But after the red card we have to feel confident for the next matches.
“Today was a very good test. This is the level we are going to face this year in the Premier League and Europa League.”
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
