Eddie Howe has confirmed that nothing has changed with the availability of Alexander Isak and that the team must forget him this weekend.
Isak is currently training away from the first team and will miss the Premier League opener on Saturday at Aston Villa after he has told Newcastle that he wants to explore his options.
The Magpies rejected an opening offer of £ 110 million plus add-ons for Isak from Liverpool on 1 August. The striker missed the pre-season Tour to Asia and has not to be seen in any of their friendly competitions.
ISAK returned to the Newcastle training facility earlier this month, but was instructed to stay away from the first team training by Howe.
Howe said, “We do [have to forget about Isak] – He is not here with us.
“We have to concentrate on who is here and get the best out of it. The players know that he is not here, the focus will be on every player who plays as well as possible.”
He added: “I want him to play. I want him to train. I have had those conversations [with Isak] But the details of this remain private.
“There is no change in the situation. All my focus is focused on the training, Aston Villa and the transfer front for bringing in players – that is all that consumes for me. The situation of Alex has been unchanged for a while and that will remain the case.”
Howe: Isak would not be where he is without Newcastle
Howe has claimed that Isak knows that he would not have had the success he has without Newcastle in the midst of the constant speculation around his future.
Isak has refused to play for the club again after Liverpool's interest in the player, but Howe says he believes that the striker knows how important the club has been for him.
“Me and Alex enjoyed a great relationship. I don't think he would have done it too, he did without it. Without his teammates, without the supporters.
“He is a very intelligent person and he knows that he would not have had the success he had without everyone being connected to Newcastle.”
Newcastle expected to move quickly for Wissa
Newcastle is expected to go quickly during a deal for Yoane Wissa after Brentford has completed the signing of Dango Ouattara, who takes place to join the bees from Bournemouth in a £ 42 million deal.
Sky Sports News understands that the representatives of Wissa – who are in the UK – were convinced that Brentford would come into contact with Newcastle if there was a movement on forward reinforcements.
Ouattara is seen by Brentford as the replacement for Bryan Mbeumo, so the arrival of Ouattara does not guarantee that Wissa will now be sold.
The clubs still have to agree with a fee for Wissa, whose camp is ready to complete personal conditions with Newcastle as soon as there is a club-to-club agreement.
After Ouattara, Brentford will continue to work hard in the market for a possible replacement for Wissa.