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Alexander Isak's absence from Newcastle's squad to face Aston Villa on Saturday has been confirmed, marking a new chapter in the summer's biggest transfer saga, with the forward now facing a fine.
Swedish striker Isak is refusing to play for the Magpies as he tries to engineer a move away from St.
The Reds have had one bid for Isak turned down, and it remains uncertain whether they will come back with a better offer before the deadline on 1 September.
However, this hasn't deterred Isak from standing his ground as he seeks to extricate himself from a club where he was once on the brink of achieving hero status.
With three years left on his contract and still receiving his £140,000 (around $190,000) weekly wage despite not training with his teammates in recent weeks, Isak continues to work solo at the club's training ground and has even relocated from his Tyneside home.
Anthony Gordon will instead spearhead Newcastle's attack, while Anthony Elanga makes his debut following a transfer from Nottingham Forest, and other new signings Malik Thiaw and Aaron Ramsdale are on the bench.
On the other hand, Villa has selected Marco Bizot, a summer acquisition from Brest, as its goalkeeper with Emi Martinez serving a one-match suspension, and new striker Evann Guessand, a signing from Rennes, starts on the bench.
Isak is wanted by Liverpool
However, Isak's absence at Villa Park is likely to result in a fine.
Eddie Howe confessed on Friday that the standoff has caused disruption within his squad during preseason.
"I think morale was certainly affected early on during pre-season," he said ahead of the game against Villa.
"There was nothing I could do to affect that - it was always going to be there.
"When you have a player that good who is not part of your group, it's difficult for the players to fully understand it and to know what's going on and how to react.
"But, as time has gone on, there has been an acceptance that this is the squad and we have got to make the best of the situation.
"That's always been my train of thought.
"Whatever situation you're in, you have got to find a way, and you can only control what you can control.
"We have moved forward, and I've got to say the atmosphere of the group has been very good in the last couple of weeks."
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