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Search Alexander Isak's push to leave Newcastle for Liverpool has had a surprising impact in Eddie Howe's dressing room.

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Alexander Isak is training alone at Newcastle.

Isak's desire to leave Newcastle has been one of the headline stories of the summer transfer window, with Liverpool eyeing his signature.

Liverpool have already seen one bid worth £110million rejected, with the Magpies demanding that the Premier League champions meet their eye-watering £150m valuation.

Isak has strongly pushed for a departure by refusing to travel on the pre-season tour of Asia before training at his former club, Real Sociedad, in an unsanctioned trip.

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The 25-year-old striker has since trained away from Howe's squad and will likely continue to do so until his future is resolved.

Isak's situation has combined with multiple failed transfer pursuits to make for a worrying summer transfer window at St.

James' Park.

However, ahead of Saturday's Premier League opener against Aston Villa, Burn acknowledged there was "a lot of external noise" but stressed it hadn't hampered preparations.

"I think so," Burn responded when asked whether the Isak saga had brought the Newcastle players closer together.

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Dan Burn has pushed Alexander Isak aside.

We've got quite a tight-knit group, and we just get on with it.

"I think we've now been about four or five weeks without Alex [Isak], so for us, he's obviously not involved at the moment.

"But we've got players who need to step up and contribute to the goals, and we're ready to go."

Newcastle were the better team at Villa Park, but could not take advantage of their chances as they started the campaign with a 0-0 draw against Villa.

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The hosts went down to 10 men in the second half after Ezri Konsa prevented Anthony Gordon from running through on goal.

But Newcastle's new-look frontline of £55m signing Anthony Elanga, Harvey Barnes and Gordon, playing as a striker, did not find the breakthrough.

The Tyneside outfit are expected to complete the signing of Brentford forward Yoane Wissa next week, replacing Callum Wilson after his contract expiry.

Howe will want another striker, though, if Isak finally gets his wish and joins Arne Slot's terrifying attack closer to the deadline.

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