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Eddie Howe explains why Newcastle are in a lose-lose situation with Isak
EDDIE HOWE says Newcastle are in a lose-lose situation regarding Alexander Isak – but admitted there’s “two sides to every story” amid the star’s ongoing strike.
The wantaway Swede, 25, finally went public on his desire to leave this week with his bombshell “broken promises” statement.
Newcastle hit back at the those claims from the striker, who still refuses to play as he tries to force a move to Liverpool, and denied any promises had been made that he could go.
Liverpool, who head to St. James’ Park on Monday, are preparing a new £130m British record bid that Toon insist will be turned down.
And Howe faces the prospect of eventually losing a world-class star or keeping a player who doesn’t want to be there.
He said: “The club has to act in the best interests of Newcastle and we will do that in every situation.
“It is a lose-lose situation to a degree for us because I don’t think we can come out of this winning in any situation. That is why I have said all summer it is a difficult situation for the club to manage.
“We love Alex in the sense in what has done for this football club since he has been here, what he has contributed, what he has given, how professional he’s been and this has just been an unfortunate few months that looks like it is coming to an end. And it will come to an end pretty quickly and then we can focus on the football again.”
Howe says Isak’s relationship with the Toon Army can still be repaired as he refused to stick the boot into the forward – who has become public enemy No1 with fans.
He said: “I believe it can. I believe the supporters will always react off how a player plays and gives the team.
“This has been an unfortunate situation but there are always two sides to every story.
“There’s always more than even I will know, because there are conversations and things that have taken place far away from me and my knowledge of it.
“I’ve been focusing on the team and pre-season, so I’ve become totally detached from the situation to a degree so I think my job now is to support Alex, care for him at this moment in time and see where we are in a week’s time.”
Howe, who hopes to bolster his forward line by bringing in Yoane Wissa, revealed he hasn’t spoken to the £150m-rated hotshot this week.
He claims the whole fall-out is nothing personal and continued to stress how much he wants Isak to return and fire the club to more glory after last season’s Carabao Cup success.
He said: “When I see him we speak as normal. There are no issues between us.
“It’s difficult on both sides. It’s far from ideal for both parties, that’s Alex and us. But when we see each other we’re fine.
“He’s training later on detached from the group. We will, I’m sure, catch up at some stage and hopefully speak soon.
“He’s contracted to us. He’s our player. My wish is he would be playing on Monday night but he won’t be, which is regrettable. But 100 per cent I want to see him back in a Newcastle shirt.
“There’s no doubt how the players will feel. They will feel the same way I do.
“Alex is an outstanding player and a very, very good person, a good character, a good lad. He wants to succeed in his career.
“This has been a really difficult situation for him and for the players to see us without him.
“The players have handled it really well. If Alex decided to come back and play for us the players would welcome him back.”
Howe, who claimed he “didn’t know” if Isak had been fined for refusing to face Aston Villa, also says he has no idea if the situation can be resolved before the September 1 transfer deadline.
But he says the club are still determined to keep the rebel but warned Isak would only pull on a Black and White shirt again if he was “totally committed”.
Howe added: “I’m not a fortune-teller, unfortunately. I’d love to be, but I’ve got no way of knowing what will happen in the next few days in terms of trying to get some finality on the situation, so I’m in the same boat as everybody else, really.
“The club has had a very strong stance regarding Alex’s situation all summer. Obviously there has been a lot of conversations between the club and his representatives that I’ve not been a part of, but for me, nothing has changed throughout the summer.
“If Alex is to play for Newcastle again, he has to be totally committed. I don’t think it works any other way. But that question is for another day. When any player puts on the shirt and steps onto the pitch, he has to give his all for the team.”
