Eddie Howe provides update on injured star

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has provided fans with an update on injured striker Alexander Isak, confirming that there is currently no date set for the Swede’s return from injury.

The 22-year-old joined the Magpies from Real Sociedad in the summer for a reported fee of £58m, scoring on his debut against Liverpool.

However, Isak has struggled for fitness since arriving in Tyneside and has been out since September with a thigh injury suffered on international duty.

Newcastle return to action on Tuesday with a Carabao Cup match against Bournemouth, but Howe has confirmed that Isak is unlikely to feature.

“With Alex, there was no fixed return date on him,” Howe told reporters ahead of the match. “I think the medical team have just tried to look at his recovery day by day, and try and get him in the best physical place he can be in the ideal time.

“We hoped to have him fit and available for the Bournemouth game, but I don’t think that’s going to look likely. We’ll just take it on a game-by-game basis.

“It’s a difficult one,” said Howe. “We haven’t got a return date on him. He’s with the medical team at the moment, and he’s working hard and making progress. I can’t give you a return date.”

Howe was also asked for an update on Callum Wilson, who has just returned from World Cup duty with England and would be first choice to fill in for Isak up front.

“We’ve only seen Callum briefly, but I don’t want to give too much away, to be honest,” said Howe.

Newcastle have enjoyed an excellent start to the Premier League season and will hope to have at least one of their star strikers back in action soon.