Official Alexander Isak statement as Newcastle United make surgery decision
Alexander Isak has pulled out of the Sweden squad as he nurses a groin issue.
Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has withdrawn from the Sweden squad for their June friendlies against Hungary and Algeria.
A groin issue forced Isak to miss the recent 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, though he was passed fit for the final Premier League game of the campaign against Everton last Sunday.
Isak trained individually during the week before resuming full training on Saturday. He played a full 90 minutes against the Toffees as United, despite losing 1-0, qualified for the Champions League.
“He trained yesterday,” Eddie Howe explained after the game, “For me, that's the day that he had to train to be fit and available.
“He hadn't missed a lot of football. It was a week, really, that he'd missed. I think whenever a player misses even that small amount of time, you lose a little bit of sharpness in your game. I think that was possibly the case.
“Big credit to him. He put himself available. He wanted to play. He wanted to try and make the difference. He had a couple of chances in the game. So I was just very pleased that he was so desperate to play.”
The 25-year-old finished the 2024-25 campaign as Newcastle’s top goalscorer with 27 goals, 23 of which came in the Premier League, a total bettered only by Mohammed Salah’s 29.
Alexander Isak withdraws from Sweden squad
Despite featuring against Everton, Isak is clearly still carrying a problem and as a result has opted to withdraw from the Sweden squad. Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side face Hungary in Budapest on Friday, June 6 before hosting Algeria on Tuesday, June 10.
A statement from the Swedish FA read: “Alexander Isak withdraws from the upcoming national team training camp. National team captain Jon Dahl Tomasson calls up Jordan Larsson, FC Copenhagen, and Gustaf Nilsson, Club Brugge, to the squad.
“In early June, the men's national team will hold its last training camp of the spring. During the training camp, two friendly matches await. On National Day, there will be a match against Hungary away and on June 10, Algeria will come to Strawberry Arena.
“After the weekend, however, it is clear that Newcastle striker Alexander Isak will be forced to withdraw due to a minor injury. The offensive duo FCK's Jordan Larsson and Club Brugge's Gustaf Nilsson have now been selected for the collection.”
Alexander Isak surgery?
Isak has been nursing a groin issue at various points in the season, also missing the 2-0 defeat away to Liverpool in February. That has led to suggestions the striker could require surgery in the summer, however Howe doesn’t believe that to be the case.
“I think he's had a couple of groin issues off either side,” said Howe. “I think this is one that he had earlier in the season.
“I don't think this is a surgery issue. I don't think it's something that needs mending. It certainly probably needs looking at as to why he's getting these sort of groin complaints. But yeah, it's definitely not a surgery issue.
“It's probably more of a what's he doing to strengthen that area issue, which we'll of course look at and focus on.”