Howe eases concerns over Alexander Isak injury | OneFootball

Eddie Howe has insisted Alexander Isak’s groin injury is not a ‘long-term problem’ for the Newcastle forward.

Isak was not included in the squad for Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League.

Newcastle lacked threat in the absence of their leading scorer, who has scored 21 goals in 30 appearances across all competitions this season.

The Magpies face Brighton in the FA Cup’s fifth round this weekend and Howe said he was unsure whether Isak would be available.

He emphasised that Newcastle will take no risk with the Sweden international, ahead of a crucial period of the season and next month’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.

“We will see today. I haven’t seen him since the game. We will see how he is today. We don’t think it’s a long-term problem. There was no risk taken on Wednesday and there can’t be with the stage of the season we’re in,” Howe said at his pre-match press conference.

“There is always a risk with any player but we wouldn’t take any risks on his long-term fitness. We will see how he is today and if he is fit, he will play.

“I think with Alex, it is pretty clear for me, if he is fit in any game leading up to the EFL Cup final then he will play and we have to have that mindset with all of our players. You can’t save players as they will lose rhythm. The best thing for a player to stay in good form and to stay fit is to play them and that’s what we will try to do with all of our players.

“I think naturally when he is not playing, the team has a totally different look. It’s still a team that can be successful but they will have to do it in a different way.

“Alex has standout qualities. We have moulded our game to his qualities. He is an outstanding talent and he possesses skills and abilities and a way of playing that makes us better in my opinion and that’s no disrespect to anyone we have.

“I thought Callum (Wilson) did a great job for the team in a change of system on Wednesday but I think we missed Alex.”

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