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Alexander Isak's future remains in the air(Image: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)

Eddie Howe admits Alexander Isak's future is up to the wantaway Newcastle striker.

The Toon felt the absence of Isak, who is desperate to join Liverpool, in their Premier League curtain-raiser at Aston Villa as they were held to a goalless draw against 10 men.

Isak was left out by Howe as the Sweden international tries to force a move away from St James’ Park, with Liverpool seeing a bid rejected earlier in the summer.



We have to cope without the narrative against us.”

Howe refused to speculate on whether the Magpies would have beaten Villa with Isak in the team, having failed to score when playing against 10 men for over half-an-hour.

READ MORE:Eddie Howe sends four-word message to Alexander Isak as Newcastle fans make feelings clearREAD MORE:Alan Shearer fumes at Alexander Isak as Liverpool saga reaches boiling point

“I don’t think it’s the narrative we want to go down, because it’s easy to say, but you’ve got no way of knowing if that’s the case,” he said.

It’s very easy for the players to have a feeling of negativity going into the game or an excuse they’re ready, but there was no sign of that in our performance.”

The draw meant Villa will now go more than a calendar year without home defeat in the Premier League.

This is the level we are going to face this year in the Premier League and Europa League.”

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