'Disgusting' - Alexander Isak slammed after bombshell Newcastle United update as Liverpool watch on
Alexander Isak has been slammed for his actions at Newcastle United.
Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor has slammed Alexander Isak after he reportedly told Newcastle United he’ll never play for them again.
Isak has been training away from his teammates for the last fortnight, first sitting out of the club’s pre-season tour of Asia before missing weekend matches against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid at St James’ Park.
The Sweden international returned to Tyneside last week after training individually at former club Real Sociedad - a visit head coach Eddie Howe found out the through the media. He has been training alone at the club’s training ground, arriving at a different time from his teammates.
The 25-year-old wants to join Premier League champions Liverpool and according to The Athletic‘s David Ornstein, is adamant he won’t play for the club again, seeing his Newcastle career “finished” and therefore has zero desire to reintegrate back into the squad.
Responding to the story, Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT: “Who do you think you are? Disgusting. What that club has done for you.
"Real Madrid want him in two years when he's 27, he'll do the same to you," Agbonlahor said. "The fact that Newcastle missed out on [Benjamin] Sesko have got every right to say, 'Listen, you're going nowhere, we've lost Callum Wilson, we can't get Wissa over the line yet.'
"I'm not a Newcastle fan but I'm fuming for them. You've had a fantastic season, settle down a bit mate. I get it, you want to go and explore and go for a bigger club but if it doesn't suit the club, shut up.
"Get your boots on, big season for Newcastle [who] want to start the season well [at] Villa away, and now you're adamant you don't want to play? Wow, that’s wound me up.”
Alexander Isak ruled out of Newcastle United opener vs Aston Villa
With Isak refusing to train or play, Anthony Gordon is set to be deployed as the emergency striker at Villa Park.
Speaking on Friday, Howe explained: “We've had discussions and it's clear at the moment that we can't involve him with the group. So, yeah, I don't know how long that will be for. That's the latest.
“He's here, of course he has a future at Newcastle. Certainly from our perspective, everyone connected with the club, we would love to see him back with the team. But the situation has to be right for that time.
“I'd want Alex to be playing today. I'd want him training tomorrow. We would love the player to be with us. Let me make that absolutely clear, there is no part of me that doesn’t want that outcome. But I don’t see that changing [the current situation] before Aston Villa.”
Gordon has led the line in Isak’s absence before, and did so in Saturday’s 2-0 friendly defeat to Atletico Madrid at St James’ Park.