Newcastle United fans will definitely accept Alexander Isak back – Darren Ambrose | OneFootball

Darren Ambrose has been talking about Newcastle United and of course Alexander Isak.

Ambrose played at United under Sir Bobby Robson, having been signed by the Robson from his old club Ipswich Town.

The former NUFC player now quizzed on the situation at St James’ Park ahead of the new season.

How Newcastle are going to get on in their 2025/26 campaign, plus of course the big Alexander Isak question to be answered.

Former Newcastle United player Darren Ambrose has been talking to Betway about his old club.

Darren Ambrose asked – Can you see a way back at Newcastle United for Alexander Isak?

“Newcastle United fans will definitely accept Alexander Isak back, but if I talk about as being a player I have to ask, will the players accept him?

“In my opinion, yes, they will. I don’t think this is going to cause any disturbance in the changing room whatsoever.

“I’ve been there when players want to leave a football club and that’s their personal preference, and if they want to leave, then that’s up to them.

“So as players, you want the best players in your team – and Isak is one of, if not the best player at Newcastle.

“So yes, it’s going to disappoint some of the players, but if he came back fully committed, then he’d of course be accepted in the dressing room. Fans are maybe a little bit different because that may take a little longer.

“First and foremost, I do hope he does stay with Newcastle, and if he does end up staying – and all this transfer saga gets put to bed – the interesting one will be what 25th of August with Liverpool at home.

“That could be intriguing – no matter whether he’s at Liverpool or Newcastle.

Darren Ambrose asked; ‘What happens between Pope and Ramsdale? Would you give Ramsdale No. 1 status immediately, or start the season with Pope between the posts?’

“I think it’s a strange decision. It’s a strange signing for me. This is nothing against Aaron Ramsdale – I think he’s a fantastic goalkeeper. He’s had a great career up to now, of course. He’s had some relegations on his belt, which is not ideal, like last season at Southampton. I like Nick Pope. He may not be able to distribute it as well as Aaron Ramsdale on the floor, but maybe that’s what Eddie Howe wants.

“I just see this as a sideways move, if they’re changing Nick Pope for Aaron Ramsdale. I think they’re both talented, I just think there are more positions at Newcastle that need sorting, rather than the goalkeeper situation.

“It was an eyebrow raiser. He signed, and I think he’s going there to compete for number one. I don’t think he’s going there to sit on the bench.

“I think he’s been told maybe he’s going to be starting. I don’t think he would want to see out his career as a number two at Newcastle – and that may signal the end of Nick Pope at Newcastle.

“Hopefully not because he’s been involved in moments like that trophy lift last season. For them it was a fantastic achievement.

“Overall, it was an eyebrow-raising decision but hopefully Ramsdale can have a successful career at Newcastle.”

Darren Ambrose asked; ‘If you were to pick one or the other for the first game season, who would you be leaning towards?’

“I would go for Nick Pope first game of the season. I just think he’s been there long enough. He knows the defenders, knows the players.

“He looks like he’s a good character, he looks like he’s well-liked, and Aaron Ramsdale will be once he arrives in the dressing room.

“I’d just stick with Nick Pope, I really would, and I think he deserves it.

“I think maybe the mistake against Celtic in preseason might help out Eddie Howe. He might make the decision and say look, we’re going to go with a fresh start with Aaron Ramsdale.

“But for me, Nick Pope starts on the first game of the season.”

Darren Ambrose asked; ‘Do you think the Newcastle squad is deep enough to handle a Premier League and Champions League campaign as it stands?’

“In terms of squad depth, no, I don’t think they’ve got enough at the moment.

“There’s still a few weeks left, of course, until the window shuts, but they need reinforcements.

“They’ve lost Callum Wilson, Sean Longstaff, and Lloyd Kelly, who didn’t play much, but lost those three players and brought in Anthony Elanga and Ramsdale.

“In terms of quality, they’ve got the quality to deal with a European tour and the Premier League, but depth – I think they need more, and I think they just maybe are waiting for this situation with Isak to get out of the way before they decide how much they’ve got to spend, what players they need.

“They don’t have long, they’re running out of time, but I just feel they need maybe four or five more players.”

Darren Ambrose asked; ‘Where do you think they will finish in the Premier League?’

“I don’t think top four or top five. I think maybe they’ll be competing for the last Europa League spot or Europa Conference spot at the moment because we’ve seen it – they’ve got a great squad in terms of quality, but we saw what happened last time they were in the Champions League.

“Trying to navigate a Champions League and a Premier League campaign with a small number of players in terms of quality is difficult, and they struggled.

“I just think Eddie Howe will know that, so he’ll want to change that and add some players.