Want-away Alexander Isak’s absence overshadows Newcastle’s opening draw with Aston Villa
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Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa fouls Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon in their Premier League game at Villa Park, Birmingham on Aug 16, 2025 and is later sent off.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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BIRMINGHAM, England – Newcastle United dominated possession but could not convert their chances in a scoreless Premier League draw at 10-man Aston Villa on Aug 16, with Eddie Howe’s visitors missing striker Alexander Isak, who wants to leave the club.
With Newcastle set to play Liverpool, who recently had a big-money bid for the want-away Sweden international rejected, in their next league game at St James’ Park on Aug 25, the stakes will be even higher.
“I think it’s always spicy against Liverpool, there’s a history with the fixture,” Howe said.
“It’s been an unbelievable fixture over the Premier League years, so we look forward to it. We respect them when we know how good they are, but hopefully off the back of today we’re ready for it.”
Isak is training away from the rest of the squad and has reportedly said he will not play for the club again.
He was sorely missed as his teammates struggled despite Villa being a man down for almost half an hour, after Ezri Konsa sent off for pulling down Isak’s replacement Anthony Gordon.
“It has been difficult, because we’re such a tight-knit group... we’ve never really had any problems publicly, and that being the first thing that’s happened, that’s tested us,” Gordon said.
“This (situation with Isak) can sort of battle-test you and make you better in the end, I think that’s going to be the case,” he added, saying that he was prepared to play as a centre-forward if the manager wanted him to.
“I really like it. I feel like, as my career progresses, I feel like I will end up more central anyway, so it’s come a bit earlier than I’d imagined, but I’m really enjoying it, it’s just going to take some getting used to.”
Howe sounded like he would be prepared to give Gordon more chances in the role as the club seek a resolution to Isak’s situation.
“I thought he (Gordon) looked a real threat. He plays it uniquely to him, he’s less of a focal point and more of a drifter across the pitch, but he’s got pace and he runs in behind and he causes teams problems in that respect,” Howe said.
“I hope it (Isak’s situation) is resolved quickly, because it’s sort of news around us all the time, rather than focusing on what we need to do on the pitch,” he added. REUTERS
