Newcastle United started their Premier League campaign with a scoreless draw in Aston Villa, with a random striker Alexander Isak, desperate to become a member of Liverpool, striking because of his absence
Eddie Howe admits that the future of Alexander Isak is on the Newcastle stitcher in Newcastle. The tone felt the absence of Isak, which is desperate to join Liverpool, in their Premier League curtain increase in Aston Villa while they were held on a scoreless draw against 10 men.
Isak was omitted by Howe when the Sweden International tries to go a step away from St James' Park, where Liverpool saw an offer that was rejected earlier in the summer. Howe repeated his position that the door remains open for Isak to be integrated into the team again if he wants to be, but knows that only the player has control.
“I certainly have no control over that,” said Howe. “And I think there is only one person who could really control that. Nothing has changed. But he has to decide what he wants to do.
“I mean, that's the fastest way. But of course Alex has control over what he does. I have no control over him. I hope it will be solved soon, because it is news around us all the time. Players have succeeded in closing and performing. We have to keep doing that.
Howe refused to speculate about whether the Magpies Villa would have defeated Isak in the team, because they played no more than half an hour against 10 men.
“I don't think it's the story that we want to tell, because it's easy to say, but you have no way to know if that is the case,” he said. “Of course you will miss someone who scored the goals that Alex has, and not only the goals, but the caliber of the player he is.
“So we are not stupid enough to think differently, but we just have to look and talk about the players who are here and what they have given today. It is very easy for the players to play a feeling of negativity or an excuse that they are ready, but there was no sign of that in our performance.”
The draw meant that Villa will now go more than a calendar year without the defeat of the home in the Premier League. They were in the Ascendency when Ezri Konsa was fired because he had taken Anthony Gordon when the Newcastle Forward was on goal. But they stuck with 10 men and never really looked like giving in.
“We are not happy if we lose two points at home,” said Boss Unai Emery. “But after the red card we have to feel confident for the next games.
“Today was a very good test. This is the level that we are confronted with this year in the Premier League and Europa League.”