Newcastle striker Alexander Isak is a major doubt for Saturday’s Premier League clash with champions Manchester City as he nurses a broken toe.
Head coach Eddie Howe has revealed the £63million Sweden international played in last week’s 3-1 defeat at Fulham having had a pain-killing injection, but is yet to train this week.
Head coach Howe said: “He’ll be a doubt for tomorrow. He’s had scans, he’s had lots of tests. The injury has been diagnosed fine, there’s no issues there.
“It sounds worse than it is, but he’s got a broken toe, but it’s one that can be managed and played with providing he can tolerate the pain levels, and that will have no long-term risks.
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“He had an injection to numb the toe last week and that was fine until the injection wore off. Let’s see how he is today.”
Isak, 25, picked up the injury during the Magpies’ 2-1 league win at Wolves, where he was replaced at half-time, on September 15.
Howe said: “He trained last week before the Fulham game on the Friday and he had an injection in his toe to play. He felt fine, but then he started to feel his toe in the last five to 10 minutes of that game.
“Then after the game it stiffened up and it wasn’t in a great place early in the week, so he hasn’t trained yet, so we’ll have to make a decision again as to whether he trains today or he misses the game.”