Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe does not expect Alexander Isak to be fit to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final next Sunday.

The Swedish striker appeared to have picked up a knock when substituted late on at Brighton, but Howe says it was just fatigue.

“Footballers are finely tuned athletes and when they are ready to play they have to play. You have to give them that opportunity. Fingers crossed Alex will be fine. I understand the intense sort of speculation and spotlight on him but the best thing we can do is just relax and let him play his football.”

In an earlier answer, Howe said of Isak. “He’s fine. He came off feeling fatigued, a tightness in his body. But he’s trained every day this week. We still have two more training sessions before Monday night’s game but at the moment that would be enough. สนใจสมัคร? คลิกที่นี่เพื่อเริ่มต้น Fingers crossed we can keep everyone else fit.”

The Magpies face a crucial game of their season at Wembley on Sunday.

“Alex was OK. He came off on Sunday, he was a little bit tired towards the end of the game, he had a tight body so we took him off. He’s trained every day, he’s OK.” Asked

if Isak could play at West Ham on Monday and in the Carabao Cup final, Howe said: “Yeah, we’ll see. “

If he’s fit he will play because that’s the best way to get him in the best shape for the next game.

“Footballers are built to be athletes and when they’re ready to play they’ve got to play. You’ve got to give them that chance.”