Newcastle kicked off their pre-season preparations with a crushing 4-0 defeat to Celtic but much of the focus as the game kicked off was on an absentee from the Magpies squad.
Talismanic striker Alexander Isak was nowhere to be seen as the Premier League side’s starting XI and substitutes were announced prior to the game.
Isak’s name has flooded the back pages over the past week following Liverpool‘s interest and willingness to break the British transfer record to sign him – if Newcastle change their stance on him not being for sale.
The Reds looked to have turned their attention to Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, who Newcastle have also been targeting.
However, there were some murmurings of doubt from Magpies fans following Isak’s exclusion on Saturday.
After the game, Eddie Howe explained that it was his decision, saying: ‘I chose to send him home.
Alexander Isak was not included in Newcastle’s squad for Saturday’s friendly vs Celtic
The Scottish champions thrashed the Premier League side 4-0 at Celtic park
‘The last thing Alex wants if he is not playing is to be sat in the stand and under that scrutiny, then if he wasn’t going to play today, we mutually agreed he shouldn’t be here.
‘It was my decision. He travelled back to Glasgow with us, but I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him. Both [Joelinton and Isak] are fit but not ready to play. Alex has trained and is fine but we didn’t want to take the risk with him.
‘Yes, I’ve had discussions with him, but that’s not abnormal,’ he added. ‘I respect a player’s career and how short it is. Alex has been really good, he’s trained really well and I realise there’ll be noise around him.
‘We have a few of those players who are irreplaceable. Your top players are so hard to find, so hard to recruit and so hard to develop. So when you have them, you need to treasure them. Of course we’re desperate to keep him as part of our team.
‘I think it’s difficult for me to ever give 100 per cent clarity on any player, I’d never do that.
‘All I can say is Alex is happy at Newcastle, he loves the players, the staff, the team. I’ve never had any issue with him and I’m confident he’s going to be here at the start of the season.’
Newcastle have maintained that he is not for sale and are under no immediate pressure to sell with three years remaining on his contract.
While Howe’s description of Isak as ‘irreplaceable’ suggests Newcastle will not relent in their stance, his absence suggests Liverpool’s interest and pursuit of the absent star may not yet be over.
Newcastle have insisted that Isak’s exclusion is unrelated to his future at the club
Saturday’s meeting with the Scottish champions was Newcastle’s first official pre-season tie, following a behind-closed-doors 4-0 win over Carlisle United a week ago.
The two sides were competing for the first-ever adidas Trophy at Celtic Park in Glasgow.
The hosts took the lead through Arne Engels’ penalty before Johnny Kenny’s strike doubled it shortly before half-time.
New signing Anthony Elanga came on to make his debut following the break but things only got worse for the visitors.
Celtic extended their lead in the opening minutes of the second-half through Yang Hjun-jun’s close-range effort before Liam Scales’ header rounded off a difficult afternoon for Eddie Howe’s side.
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