Sweden announce squad – Pointer to whether Alexander Isak available or not for Newcastle v Everton? | OneFootball

All eyes now on Alexander Isak and whether he will be available for Newcastle v Everton on Sunday.

A win would guarantee United ending the season in the top five of the Premier League and qualifying for the Champions League.

Alexander Isak was conspicuous by his absence on Sunday.

Ahead of the Arsenal match, the club’s official media saying that a ‘minor groin issue’ had caused the striker to be missing from the matchday squad.

Eddie Howe giving this update on Alexander Isak in the aftermath of the striker missing that 1-0 defeat at Arsenal:

“He only really felt pain after training [on Saturday].  He felt fine during the training but then had a bit of stiffness. He went for a scan on Sunday morning, purely as a precaution really, but then it became obvious that he wasn’t going to be fit to play.

“It is an unknown [at this moment in time] whether Alex [Isak] will be fit for the Everton game. I don’t know what will happen, a lot will depend on how he reacts in the next few days. I think he has had a couple of groin issues, on either side,.

“I think this is one that he had earlier in the season. I don’t think this is a surgery issue. I don’t think it’s something that needs mending. It probably needs looking at, as to why he is getting these groin complaints. But it is definitely not a surgery issue, it is probably more of a case of what is he doing to strengthen that area [or needs to do], which of course we will look at and focus on.”

A lot of debate amongst Newcastle United fans and journalists, as to whether this meant Alexander Isak would also be missing the Everton match as well, or whether this had been more of a precaution to miss the Arsenal game, to try and ensure the striker’s availability for what looks on paper at least, a far more winnable match against Everton.

Very soon after the Premier League season ends, the various international squads are getting together.

Amongst those are Sweden, who have two friendlies against Hungary (away on 6 June) and Algeria (at home on 10 June).

The Sweden boss (and former Newcastle United striker) Jon Dahl Tomasson has now named that squad.

As you can see, he has included Alexander Isak. Emil Krafth not named in the squad though.

Is this a reliable pointer as to believing now that Isak is going to be available for the Newcastle v Everton match?

Impossible to tell.

Although for sure it is better than Alexander Isak missing from Tomasson’s named squad! As that would no doubt have had everybody believing no chance of Isak making the Everton match.

Eddie Howe will be doing his media stuff on Friday morning and maybe we will get a better idea then on Alexander Isak and other players, as to their likely involvement, or not, on Sunday.

However, Eddie Howe has repeatedly shown he is the ultimate Poker player, repeatedly misleading the opposition and the media not having a clue.

As evidenced perfectly last Sunday, when not a single journalist had a clue before Eddie Howe named his team and subs for the Arsenal match, only then everybody finding out Alexander Isak was absent.

All eyes on 2.45pm when Eddie Howe names his team and subs for this Everton match.