Eddie Howe says it is “clear” that he “can’t involve” Alexander Isak at Newcastle United as things stand.
Newcastle rejected a £110m bid from Liverpool last week after the striker wanted to explore his options.
Isak missed Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Asia with a “minor thigh injury”, but the 25-year-old went on to train alone at former club Real Sociedad.
Howe previously warned no player could expect to act “poorly and train with group as normal”.
Howe has not closed the door on Isak one day representing Newcastle again – but the head coach stressed on Friday that the situation “had to be right for that to happen”.
“We’ve had discussions and it’s clear at the moment that we can’t involve him with the group,” he said after Newcastle’s 2-2 draw in a friendly against Espanyol. “I don’t know how long that will be for, but that’s the latest.”
Howe confirmed Isak, who has no current fitness issues, had not been disciplined.
But the Sweden international has been instructed to train at a later time to the rest of his team-mates in Newcastle.
I’d want Alex to be playing today,” Howe added just eight days before the season opener at Aston Villa. “I’d want him training tomorrow. We would love the player to be with us.
“Let me make that absolutely clear. There’s no part of me that doesn’t want that outcome, but I don’t see the current situation changing for Aston Villa.”
Turbulent summer for Newcastle
A lot can change in two and a half months.
Isak was among those players celebrating in a jubilant huddle as the Champions League anthem played out at St James’ 76 days ago.
Newcastle had just secured their place at Europe’s top table and it felt like the club had real momentum going into the summer.
However, this has proved a frustrating window for Newcastle, who have missed out on Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro and James Trafford.
Then there is the Isak situation.
It fell to William Osula to play up front on Friday and Anthony Gordon, who is a winger by trade, is set to follow suit against Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Yet Isak’s absence, and a lack of signings, has not completely soured the mood on Tyneside.
Saturday’s friendly is a sell-out and, despite this game against Espanyol taking place less than 24 hours beforehand, there were still 30,782 fans present.
They already have an eye on what is to come.
“Is this the way to Barcelona?” supporters in the Gallowgate chanted. “Bayern Munich? Lazio? Roma? The Champions League awaits for me.
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