00:00Here outside the Newcastle United media centre at Whitley Park where Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media ahead of Newcastle United's huge game against Liverpool at St James' Park on Monday night. Biggest game of the season so far. Always big games against Liverpool but the added spice of the transfer narrative involving Newcastle United, Liverpool, Alexander Isaac obviously adds a lot of weight to the occasion, a lot of interest in the occasion as well.
00:28Was Eddie Howe asked much about the Liverpool game? Well not really, he spoke about how big games at St James' Park always produce great atmospheres and Monday night will be no different but as you'd expect the majority of the questions he was asked were about Alexander Isaac and has that situation changed because obviously it's taken a fresh turn this week in terms of the statement released by Alexander Isaac confirming his intent to leave, broken promises, things like that.
00:53Newcastle swiftly responded by denying the fact that promises had been made that would allow Alexander Isaac to leave the club and expressing that they don't envisage that conditions that would allow a sale would be met.
01:09Which basically, reading between the lines would suggest they don't think with just over a week to go in the transfer window, they would be able to sign a suitable replacement for Alexander Isaac.
01:21They are still pursuing a striker but that striker will be viewed as a replacement for Callum Wilson who left earlier in the summer.
01:27Alexander Isaac remains a Newcastle player, remains under contract.
01:30Words enforced by Eddie Howe this morning, but the situation in the whole has not changed.
01:38Alexander Isaac will not play for Newcastle United on Monday night against Liverpool, as you'd expect.
01:44No real surprise there.
01:45Eddie Howe also couldn't guarantee whether Alexander Isaac would play for Newcastle United again or indeed before the end of the transfer window.
01:53He said he's not a fortune teller.
01:55But one interesting point which may be, make a few headlines anyway, on the Alexander Isaac situation is Eddie Howe did admit to a degree it's a lose-lose situation for Newcastle United because they're either selling a player they don't want to be sold or they're keeping a player who wants to be sold.
02:11So how did Newcastle win in this situation?
02:14And Eddie Howe said, yeah, to a degree it is a lose-lose situation.
02:17But there is a way Newcastle win in this situation.
02:20It's just hard to imagine at this point.
02:24And to be honest, I can't really see it transpiring this way and neither can the club based on their statement.
02:30Because the way you win is you sell Alexander Isaac for a record transfer fee, you bring in a suitable replacement and another player as well, two striker signings.
02:39That's not going to happen.
02:41Or Alexander Isaac stays at the club, returns, tail tucked between his legs, apologises, gets back playing and rediscovers his best form.
02:49But again, that's probably a short-term solution because then when the transfer window opens again, does this situation rear its head once more?
02:57So, yeah, it's a difficult situation for Newcastle.
03:00It doesn't feel like it's going to have a positive resolution anytime soon, certainly while the transfer window is open.
03:06But, yeah, those were Eddie Howe's thoughts.
03:11And Eddie Howe also was asked about conversations with Alexander Isaac, the sort of claims of broken promises and things like that.
03:18And Eddie Howe did admit that he had conversations with Alexander Isaac about his future before the end of last season.
03:25Though it didn't go as far as admitting that, or revealing, that Alexander Isaac had expressed his desire to leave the football club before the end of the season to Eddie Howe himself.
03:38He said those conversations will remain private.
03:40So, make of that what you wish.
03:43As it stands, Newcastle United's situation and Alexander Isaac's situation has not changed heading into Liverpool.
03:48So, Newcastle, you'd imagine, will line up with Anthony Gordon up front.
03:53No new strikers incoming, no new players incoming at the moment.
03:57And that situation may or may not change.
04:00Eddie Howe wouldn't rule out new signings, but wouldn't go as far as saying anything's close either.
04:07So, interesting situation for Newcastle United.
04:11Jacob Ramsey will be available.
04:13Eddie Howe did confirm that.
04:14And Joe Willock is back in training and has got back to fitness quite quickly.
04:18So, could be available for selection as well.
04:20You'd imagine both players will be on the bench.
04:22But, you can catch all the latest on this Alexander Isaac situation, on the Newcastle's hunt for a striker.
04:30And all the build-up to the Liverpool game over on the ShieldsGazette.com.
04:34You can also follow myself, Dominic Scurr, at DomScurr on X.
04:40And I'll be at St James' Park on Monday night, covering the game for the Shields Gazette.
04:45So, I'll see you there.
04:47And hopefully, it's a positive result for Newcastle United.
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