Newcastle United issue official Alexander Isak update as striker injured ahead of Liverpool game

Isak was named in the starting XI at Selhurst Park but his afternoon lasted just 22 minutes. The 25-year-old picked up the unspecified injury early on and despite receiving treatment was unable to continue.

Harvey Barnes replaced Isak in a switch that saw Anthony Gordon move into the central striker role. Barnes was deployed on the right hand side of with Joelinton remaining on the left.

Providing an update on Isak, Howe said: ”It was a contact issue, not a muscle pull which is good news for us. We hope he;’ll recover quickly but at this moment we don't know.”

Since arriving at Newcastle for a club-record £63million in August 2022, Isak boasts an impressive record of 40 goals in 80 appearances. He is the club’s top scorer this season with five goals in all competitions.

Howe had Callum Wilson on the bench but didn’t use him until the second-half. Will Osula was an unused substitute.

“It was a difficult one with Callum today, obviously he’s had minimal training time and we’ve got to be really careful we don’t push him too early and lose him,” Howe added.

“I didn’t feel bringing him on at that stage with the minutes left in the game was something I could do. The plan pre-game was 20 to 30 minutes as it was against West Ham.

“I decided to put Anthony up there who has done a really good job when he has gone up there for us previously and I thought he did well today.”

Next up for United is the visit of Liverpool to St James’ Park on Wednesday.