NEWCASTLE MANAGER EDDIE Howe excused Alexander Isak from travelling to their friendly with Celtic to shield him from transfer speculation but is confident the striker will remain at St James’ Park. Isak went home as the rest of the squad returned from an Austrian training camp on Friday but he was never earmarked to play in Glasgow.

Isak was left out of Newcastle's squad for their pre-season friendly defeat at Celtic on Saturday, despite being fit.

Eddie Howe admits it is not possible to 100% guarantee that Alexander Isak will still be a Newcastle player at the end of the transfer window. The Magpies’ talismanic striker has been heavily linked with a British record transfer move to Liverpool this week, while Arsenal are known to have been long-standing admirers.