Eddie Howe sends strong message to Alexander Isak as Liverpool saga drags on

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe insists it would be "detrimental" to focus too much attention on the Alexander Isak saga at the expense of the other players in his squad. Isak has been left out of the Newcastle squad for the first two games of the season, but his potential move to Liverpool has yet to go through with just two days of the transfer window remaining.

The Magpies have missed out on a number of attacking targets as they aim to refresh up front in a summer which has already seen Callum Wilson leave St James' Park. However, they have now completed a deal for Germany international Nick Woltemade.

A move for Stuttgart frontman Woltemade could be followed by another attacking addition and then an Isak sale, though bids for Yoane Wissa and Jorgen Strand Larsen have been rejected. And manager Howe, speaking ahead of Saturday's trip to Leeds, outlined where he stands with regards to Isak.

"That is where I have been for a long time with the Alex situation because it will be detrimental for me to invest any more time with that situation when I have 25/30 players needing every ounce of energy and time," Howe said when asked by ChronicleLive if things were out of his hands with the Swede. "And the team needs me to focus on trying to get results, that is what I have tried to do.

"Other people are dealing with that situation for me, it has been: 'Let me focus on the players are playing and can influence other results'."

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Newcastle are winless in their first two Premier League games without last season's top scorer Isak. They began with a goalless draw away to 10-man Aston Villa and then suffered late heartbreak against Liverpool when Rio Ngumoha scored a debut winner at the death.

Anthony Gordon was sent off against Liverpool and will miss the trip to Elland Road. Joelinton will also miss out after picking up an injury on Monday night - though it's not as serious as first feared - while Fabian Schar is available and Sandro Tonali is battling to be fit after both left the field early against Liverpool.

Newcastle have also learned their Champions League schedule for the new season after sneaking into the final qualifying spot. Holders Paris Saint-Germain are among their opponents in the league phase, while Howe's side will welcome Barcelona to St James' Park.

"Barcelona at home is an amazing fixture for us," Howe said. "You get instantly drawn to that with the links with Sir Bobby Robson and the history of the club."

Newcastle and Barcelona have faced off twice in the Champions League group stage before, though not for more than 20 years. Faustino Asprilla scored a memorable hat-trick in a 3-2 victory in 1997, while the teams faced off during the second group stage in 2002-03 when legendary manager Robson was in the dugout against his former club.

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