Eddie Howe has stated that Alexander Isak won’t be back in action until November 25 at the latest.
According to Eddie Howe, Newcastle United’s summer spending plan would not allow for the purchase of a third center-forward, which explains the team’s finishing third problems heading into a pivotal part of the campaign.
Howe’s primary striker options going into the 2023–24 season were £63 million sensation Alexander Isak and number nine Callum Wilson. However, Wilson will be playing for a considerable amount of time in the team due to Isak’s groin injury. Howe’s team will be put to the test further in three games next week.
However, Howe is willing to deploy Anthony Gordon, who has experience playing center forward for Everton and the England Under-21 team, in that role.
“That was one of the reasons for signing Anthony, who can play as a center-forward, which he did for England at the Euros and did a great job,” Howe stated at his pre-Manchester United press conference.
“There are other players; although he’s not with us right now, Harvey Barnes can play up there. Joelinton was also signed, but we’ve put him to the center of the attack.”
When considering Newcastle’s £400 million spending binge over the past two years, the head coach was questioned on how the scenario came to be. However, he believes that United has been unlucky with Harvey Barnes’ toe injury, Jacob Murphy’s shoulder issue, and Isak’s issues, all of which have reduced his front line.
“The problem is, you’re kind of hinting at signing a third striker,” Howe remarked. Simply put, we lacked the means to accomplish that. All you have at that moment is the information that you can use.
“As much as you can have a crystal ball and try to predict what will happen, that is part of our job as well, you only have a certain amount of resources and you have to make the decisions you’re faced with at the time.”
