Newcastle still adapting to losing Isak says Howe

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe says the Magpies are still adapting to Alexander Isak’s summer departure to Premier League champions Liverpool.

Isak effectively went on strike before finalising a record £125m move to Anfield at the end of the summer window.

Newcastle spent the money on the club record £69m signing of Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, who cost them £55m.

Those two have managed eight Premier League goals for the Magpies, while Isak – who will miss the meeting with his old club on Saturday – has scored just twice in an injury-hit start for the Reds.

Howe said: “You lose a player like Alex, and let’s put this right, Liverpool paid the money they did because he’s an outstanding footballer, an unbelievable talent. We were privileged to have him for the years that we had him. We loved working with him.

“He was an outstanding player. When you take that player away from your team, it’s going to change the dynamics, that’s for sure. Then you have to try to find a way of, not replacing him, but finding a player or players who can still make the team really effective.

“We’re still in that moment and we’ve been trying to do that all season. I think the guys who have come in have done a very good job.

“But we’re still finding ways to get the best out of the new players that we’ve signed without training, with very minimal time to do any work with them.

“There’s been video analysis, talking to them, which is great, but it’s not the same as getting the work on the training pitch.

“They’ve done really well and they’re trying to give the team the best that they have and we are trying to adapt.”

Newcastle trail the champions, who they beat in last season’s Carabao Cup final, by three places and as many points, and head for Anfield boosted by Wednesday night’s 1-1 Champions League draw at holders Paris St Germain.