Alexander Isak's Sweden team-mates admit they have been impressed with his start to life at Newcastle United in response to the striker's withdrawal from international duty early this week. The forward said his goodbyes and left his country's camp on Thursday after picking up a small niggle in training.
Isak trained alone after linking up with his international co-stars but Sweden staff felt the 23-year-old wouldn't be fit enough to face to Serbia on Saturday or Slovenia on Tuesday after assessing his knock at the start of the week.
Viktor Claesson, Mattias Svanberg and the rest of the Sweden side will now have to tackle their Nations League clashes without their main man in attack and have been quick to highlight how big of a loss Isak will be in the next week.
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“We are losing a very good player, who has done well at the start of the Premier League. It’s clear we wanted him with us, but it’s also something you’re used to as a footballer. There will be injuries. I have no doubt that we have replacements,” Claesson said.
On Isak’s injury blow, Svanberg said: “There is much lost, above all the quality of being able to make a difference on your own. We saw him in his first game against Liverpool, how he single-handedly scored a goal, which admittedly was ruled out for offside. Being able to stand for those actions against world [class] players, that’s a pretty good quality. And we are losing it.”
Newcastle will be keeping their fingers crossed when it comes to the severity of Isak's injury. The Magpies have already lost the likes of Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin and Elliot Anderson in recent weeks, which has stunted their performance in front of goal.
Speaking after his international withdrawal, Isak said: "It feels very sad to have to leave the team. I had longed to play in the blue and yellow shirt again. I wish the boys the best of luck on Saturday and Tuesday."
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