Eddie Howe opens up on Alexander Isak and missing out on transfer targets after Celtic 4 Newcastle 0 | OneFootball

Eddie Howe watched on as his Newcastle United team/squad lost 4-0 to Celtic.

Celtic playing their fifth friendly in front of fans as their season starts in only two weeks time.

Newcastle United their first pre-season match in public, as they have five more friendlies to play and the new season still a month away.

Predictably, a lot of the talk after the game was going to be about players who hadn’t been involved, one in particular. As well as signings that haven’t been made, as yet.

Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall weren’t available today, whilst Eddie How opted to give both Alexander Isak and Joelinton more time, after their injury issues towards the end of last season and this being very early days in pre-season.

Eddie Howe talking after Celtic 4 Newcastle 0:

“Joelinton and Alexander 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.”

Eddie Howe on keeping hold of your best players and the transfer window so far:

“We have a few players who are irreplaceable.

“We are desperate to keep Alexander Isak as part of our team.

“It is difficult for me to give 100 per cent clarity on any player.

“Alex is happy at Newcastle though, he loves the players, the staff, the team.

“I am confident he will be here at the start of the season.

“We have had a frustrating time missing out on targets [this summer], I will be open on that.

“But we are confident we can [still] get in some [more] players who can strengthen the team.

“We wanted more incomings [by this point].”

Eddie Howe on why Alexander Isak wasn’t at the Celtic match today:

“It was my decision.

“He travelled back to Glasgow [from Austria] with us but I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him.

“The last thing he wanted is to be sat in the stand watching, that wasn’t fair to him.

“But I am confident he will be a Newcastle player come the end of the window.”

Final score:

Celtic 4 Newcastle 0

Newcastle team v Celtic:

Pope (Dubravka 46), Trippier (Krafth 46), Botman (Burn 46), Schar (Lascelles 46), Barnes (Gordon 46), Targett (Alex Murphy 46), Osula (Neave), Jacob Murphy (Elanga 46), Willock (White 46), Bruno (Tonali 46), Miley (Hernes 75)

Unused Subs:

Ruddy, Ashby, Munda

Newcastle United pre-season friendly schedule 2025/26

(Saturday 12 July – Newcastle 4 Carlisle 0 (Behind closed doors))

Saturday 19 July – Celtic 4 Newcastle 0

Sunday 27 July – Arsenal v Newcastle

Wednesday 30 July – Team K-League all stars v Newcastle

Sunday 3 August- Spurs v Newcastle

Friday 8 August – Newcastle v Espanyol