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Newcastle manager Eddie Howe excused Alexander Isak from travelling to their friendly with Celtic to shield him from transfer speculation but is confident the striker will remain at St James’s Park.

Isak went home as the rest of the squad returned from an Austrian training camp on Friday but he was never earmarked to play in Glasgow.

The 25-year-old, who pulled out of Sweden’s friendly double header last month because of a groin injury, has been linked with a potential move to Liverpool this summer and, more recently, with Saudi club Al-Hilal.

Howe is desperate to keep the forward, who netted 27 goals last season.

Asked to explain the absence of Isak and Joelinton after the 4-0 defeat, Howe said: “Both players are fit but we just felt they weren’t ready to play.

“Joe’s coming back from a long injury, so we need to make sure when he’s introduced he’s ready.

“Alex has trained this week and is fine but we didn’t want to take the risk with him.

He loves the players that he plays with, the staff, the team.

Eddie Howe’s side lost 4-0 at Celtic Park (Jane Barlow/PA)

“I’ve never had any issue with him other than really enjoying seeing his talent and seeing him express himself.

Certainly I’m confident that he’s going to be here at the start of the season.

“Your top players are so hard to find, they’re so hard to recruit, they’re so hard to develop and make them into those players.

We’re of course desperate to keep him part of our team.

“Alex has been really good and he’s trained really well so far this season.

So I know there’ll be lots of noise around it and I can’t really control that but from inside, he’s been really good.”

Howe has had his frustrations in the transfer market this summer.

But we have to move on now without him.”

On the defeat by Celtic, Howe said: “I think we looked a little bit jaded.
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