Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has delivered a positive update on the fitness of Alexander Isak, but Sven Botman is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Isak has arguably been the Magpies’ standout performer this season and has scored 22 goals in 31 appearances across all competitions, including 19 strikes in 24 Premier League outings.
The Sweden international was a notable absentee from Howe’s matchday squad when Newcastle lost 2-0 at Premier League leaders Liverpool at the end of last month due to a “a slight groin problem”.
Isak then returned to the Magpies’ starting lineup for last weekend’s FA Cup defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, but he limped off towards the end of the second half before extra time began, raising concerns about his fitness.
Newcastle travel to West Ham United in the Premier League on Monday before locking horns with Liverpool in the EFL Cup final at Wembley Stadium on March 16, and ahead of these two fixtures, Howe has issued a reassuring update on Isak.
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Howe delivers positive Isak injury update
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Howe said: “He’s fine. He came off feeling fatigued, a tightness in his body, but he’s trained every day this week.
“We still have two more training sessions before Monday night’s game but at the moment that would be enough. Fingers crossed we can keep everyone else fit.”
Isak was pictured in training on Friday, and Howe will now decide whether to start the striker against West Ham and potentially manage his minutes before the EFL Cup final.
Meanwhile, Howe has confirmed that Botman require surgery on a knee problem, but the Magpies boss is hopeful the Dutchman will be able to return before the end of the season.
The 25-year-old will miss the EFL Cup final and the news about his latest injury setback comes as a huge blow for both Newcastle and the player, who only returned from a 10-month ACL layoff in January.
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Botman ruled out until early May with knee injury
“With Sven, we have been trying to get him back to full fitness. He was very close for the Brighton game, but the day before he felt something again in his knee,” said Howe.
“This week he has had the same discomfort, so it looks like he will have to have an operation.
“This has come from a knock in one of his first games back. He didn’t view it as a big issue, but he needs a really small operation just to clear out some fluid and then he should be fine again.”
Howe added: “We hope he should be back in about eight weeks.”
The loss of Botman comes after Newcastle confirmed the “devastating” news that Lewis Hall will miss the rest of the season after sustaining an injury to a bone in his foot which requires surgery.
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Howe reacts to Hall injury, Gordon suspension
“We’re really disappointed for Lewis. We are devastated for him,” said Howe. “He had so much to look forward to.
“He had the cup final and then internationals coming up, he was in really good form. It is a big blow for him and for us.”
Anthony Gordon will also miss the EFL Cup final, as well as Monday’s Premier League trip to West Ham, as Newcastle have decided they will not appeal his three-match ban for the straight red card he received in the FA Cup defeat to Brighton.
“We felt there wasn’t sufficient grounds to [appeal],” said Howe “There was no intention from Anthony. He didn’t mean to hurt anybody.
“But you have to look at it and ask if there is any chance of being successful and if there is no chance then what is the point of appealing and Anthony understands that.”
Elsewhere, Kieran Trippier (back) and Valentino Livramento (unspecified) were nursing minor issues towards the end of last weekend’s match and will be assessed ahead of Monday, while Jamaal Lascelles remains unavailable for selection after more than 12 months on the sidelines recovering from an ACL injury, but he has now begun light individual training on the grass.
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