Premier League winger axed from squad ahead of Newcastle United meeting

A broken toe forced the 25-year-old to miss the Magpies’ matches against Manchester City, AFC Wimbledon and Everton in the week leading up the October international break. And to allow time for extra recovery, Isak sat out of Sweden’s Nations League fixtures against Slovakia and Estonia.

After three weeks rest, Isak returned to the starting XI for the 1-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. Since then, he has netted in three consecutive matches, including back-to-back home wins against Chelsea and Arsenal last week.

Isak is set to start for Newcastle when they face Nottingham Forest on Sunday before linking up with Sweden for games against Slovakia and Azerbaijan. He’ll be joined by club teammate Emil Krafth, who earned his 100th cap during the last camp.

However, one Premier League star who hasn’t been called up is Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga, a decision manager Jon Dahl Tomasson was forced to defend.

“Players come in, players come out of the squad,” said Tomasson. “Football is cruel. There is a lot of competition. Isak is back and Forsberg has done well for the New York Red Bulls, with goals and assists. It’s football. We needed to make a decision.”

Elanga has started seven of Forest’s 10 league matches but is yet to open his goal-scoring account for the season.

The former Manchester United man was first linked with the Magpies in June during their frantic push to comply with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Newcastle, however, ended up signing Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos as part of the agreement that saw academy graduate Elliot Anderson head to the City Ground.

Then, on deadline day, Eddie Howe’s side made a late enquiry for Elanga but a negotiations did not advance.

Addressing Newcastle’s interest, Elanga told Fotboll Skanalen in September: “The environment in Nottingham is good. It is clear that you can see that Newcastle are interested, it means that I am playing good football when a big club shows interest.

“But Nottingham is also a big club, they have won two Champions Leagues, even though it was before I was born. But I’m happy in Nottingham and have a contract there.”