Newcastle to take next step and punish Alexander Isak after missing Aston Villa game

Alexander Isak has been confirmed absent from Newcastle United’s squad to face Aston Villa at lunchtime as the summer’s biggest transfer saga enters a new and ugly chapter withthe centre-forward now set to be fined.

Sweden striker Isak is refusing to play for the Toon as he attempts to force a move out of St James’ Park and towards reigning Premier League champions Liverpool. The Reds have had one bid for Isak rejected and it remains unclear whether they will return with an improved offer before the deadline at 7pm on September 1.

But that has not stopped Isak from digging his heels in as he attempts to extract himself from a club where he was previously on the cusp of hero status.

He has three years remaining on his contract and has continued to receive his £140,000 per week salary despite not even training with his team-mates in recent weeks. Isak continues to work alone at the club's training ground and has even moved out of his residence on Tyneside.

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Anthony Gordon will instead lead the line for Newcastle, while Anthony Elanga makes his debut after a £55m move from Nottingham Forest and other new arrivals Malik Thiaw and Aaron Ramsdale sit on the bench.

Villa, meanwhile, have named Marco Bizot, a summer signing from Brest, in goal with Emi Martinez serving a one-match ban as new striker Evann Guessand, a £26m arrival from Rennes, starts on the bench.

But Isak's non-involvement at Villa Park is set to land him a fine, according to reports, with Eddie Howe yesterday admitting that the standoff has disrupted the harmony in his squad during pre-season.

"I think morale was certainly affected early on during pre-season," he said ahead of the trip to Villa. "There was nothing I could do to affect that — it was always going to be there.

"When you have a player that good who is not part of your group, it's difficult for the players to fully understand it and to know what's going on and how to react.

"But, as time has gone on, there has been an acceptance that this is the squad and we have got to make the best of the situation. That's always been my train of thought.

"Whatever situation you're in, you have got to find a way and you can only control what you can control. We have moved forward and I've got to say the atmosphere of the group has been very good in the last couple of weeks."

Aston Villa: Bizot, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Kamara, Onana, McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers, Watkins.

Subs: Torres, Maatsen, Bogarde, Buendia, Malen, Jimoh-Alboba, Iling-Junior, Guessand, Wright

Newcastle: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Tonali, Joelinton, Guimaraes, Barnes, Gordon, Elanga.

Subs: Hall, Botman, Thiaw, Krafth, Osula, Murphy, Seung-soo, Miley, Ramsdale

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