Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak ‘should be working normally’ with his teammates by Tuesday, injury expert Ben Dinnery has told GiveMeSport.
The 23-year-old missed the Magpies’ 1-1 draw with West Ham United last time out after suffering a concussion against Southampton in the second-leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Newcastle United injury news – Alexander Isak
Isak blocked a James Ward-Prowse free-kick with his head at St. James’ Park, and Eddie Howe said he was unsure whether the attacker would be able to play any part when West Ham came to visit.
“Alex actually made a vital contribution in that moment,” Howe said. “James Ward-Prowse’s free-kick, naturally we discussed those situations a lot in the build up to both games and knowing how good he is, he (Isak) blocked the free-kick and took a blow to the side of the head.
“He had very slight signs of concussion. We’ve followed all the protocols. Whether he’ll be available or not, we’re not sure.”
Unfortunately for Newcastle, Isak had to be left out of the matchday squad against the Hammers, but he should be able to play some part in the visit to Bournemouth over the weekend.
What has Dinnery said about Isak?
Newcastle are currently vying for a top-four finish in the Premier League after defying expectations under Howe so far this season.
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And Dinnery has informed GMS that the north east outfit could receive a significant boost as Isak is in ‘strong contention for this weekend’ if he returns to training imminently.
He said: “We would expect that he could be back with the squad maybe, the chances are they may be off today, but by Tuesday, he should be working normally with the team. And that would put him in strong contention for this weekend.”
How well has Isak been playing?
Newcastle signed Isak for a club-record £63 million fee from Real Sociedad back in August, and he has shown glimpses of why they were prepared to pay such a significant sum.
The Sweden international has registered three goals and one assist in nine appearances for Howe’s charges across all competitions, although several injury issues mean he has only started on four occasions.
As per WhoScored, Isak, who earns £120,000-per-week, has also averaged two shots and one key pass per top-flight fixture throughout 2022/23, placing him in the top three for both metrics when compared to his teammates.
As a result, Howe will surely be delighted that Isak is likely to be available for selection when Newcastle take on the Cherries.