Comments from Friday's managerial media call:

"The first home game is always going to be electric. Under the lights, evening games are always really special for us.

"I have no doubt this will be a really passionate display from the home support. We need to use that - but not be reckless with it. We've got to concentrate and deliver our game plan, but using the energy from the crowd will be vital for us."

On Alexander Isak:

"He won't be part of the squad this weekend. The club has to act in the best interests of Newcastle United. It will do that in every situation. It looks like it is coming to an end, or it will come to an end pretty quickly."

"I’m disappointed that these things are made public - they should be face-to-face.

"It’s great for you guys (media), but it doesn’t reflect well on us or Alex. It was a sad moment for me trying to deal with it.

On when Isak told him of his desire to leave:

"Me and Alex had conversations towards the end of the season. Yes, I am not going to sit here and deny that. I have always said that individual conversations are better off remaining private but we had conversations at the end of the season."

On whether he'd be fined:

"That is a question I don't know the answer to. I'm not dealing with it. My focus is on the team that we have, all the training that we have to prepare for our game against Liverpool. Someone else is dealing with that.

"Of course, these situations are far from ideal in terms of talking press-wise. But as soon as I leave here I'm back with the team and the job never changes. The outside perception is one that is totally different to the normal.

"I haven't seen him this week, but when I see him, we speak as normal, there are no issues there. Of course, it's a difficult situation from both sides, and it's far from ideal for both parties.

"When we bump in to each we speak but as I say I've not seen him this week as he's training later on and detached from the group. We will catch up at some stage and hopefully speak soon.

"I have no doubt about how the players will feel. They will feel same way I do. Alex is a fantastic player, he's a good person, a good character and a good lad.

"If Alex wanted to come back and play for us the players would welcome him.

"Everything is better behind closed doors, but needs must. The club has spoken, and probably justifiably so in that moment.

"Alex is contracted to us. My wish is he would be playing on Monday night with us, but he won't be. That's regrettable. I 100% want to see him in a Newcastle United shirt.

"The club has to act in the best interests of Newcastle United. It will do that in every situation. I have a said all summer it is a difficult situation for the club. We love Alex.

"I'm not a fortune teller, I've got no way of knowing what will happen in terms of getting some finality on the situation.

"The club has to act in the best interests of Newcastle United and it will do that in every situation. I think it's a lose-lose situation for us to a degree as I don't think we can come out of this winning.

"At the moment that is not an option for us so rather than talk about hypotheticals, I'd rather talk when we get to that point and try and get the best for Alex and get the best for the team. Until the point, we are better off focussing on the players we have available for the team.

"There is always two sides to a story. My job is to support him and care for him, and we will see where we are in a week’s time. I hope I can work with him again and get him back to his best.

On new signings:

"We're working on incomings - I wouldn't say we're close.

"We still have a little bit of time but it'll go quickly. The squad is in a really good place, but we're still looking to replace Callum Wilson. That's the big area we're focusing on.

"We are still actively in the market but any transfer has to be right. With PSR you are always trying to manage that situation. We have to be careful with what we do.

"We can't allow ourselves to go into a difficult moment when we are forced to sell a player like Elliot Anderson and Yakuba Minteh."

On the transfer window closing:

"I'll be pleased when it's here, but pleased if we get what we want.

"Whenever you go through a transfer window, there's always ups and downs. It feels like there's been a lot of downs in this one, but some big positives as well and that shouldn't be forgotten.

"The players we've signed are very good and they'll add a lot to the squad.

"Of course, there's one big, challenging situation that's not resolved, but from that side, I can't wait for the end of the window so we can get back to focusing on what we need to do which is try and win football matches to be successful."

On Jacob Ramsey:

"He'll be available. We've still got training sessions to go before the game but he's in a good place and has looked really impressive in his first couple of days - really, really good technically, very intelligent and I think he'll add a lot to the team. He has standout qualities."

On Anthony Gordon playing as a centre forward:

"He’s done it enough to do the job really well for the team. I have no issue playing him there a number of times both as a starter and a substitute. He plays differently to other strikers but that can be a positive.

"He’s got devastating pace, a really good work ethic and he’s scored goals. I think he played really well last week in lots of different phases of his game."

On Joe Willock:

"Joe trained on Tuesday and Wednesday and trained really well. When he went down in the game (in Suwon) I thought he was going to be out longer term, it didn't look good.

"Credit to him - he's got back fit and looking good."

On Fabian Schar and Dan Burn:

"Fabian and Dan were excellent against Aston Villa - defending, leading, organising, making sure that we concentrated throughout the game. It would have been very easy for one slip to cost us. I thought we looked really good in that respect.

"Sven (Botman), Malick (Thiaw) and Jamaal (Lascelles) are all outstanding players individually and will give us a lot this year but when you're not in the team you have to be patient, train really well so when you do get your opportunity you can grab it."

Author Andrew Nagy will be signing copies of his new book "The Battle for Newcastle United," at Waterstones in Newcastle by Greys Monument from 1pm on Saturday.

Andrew's book is one of a growing range from Pitch publishing - find their catalogue here and offers on current and future NUFC titles at their Amazon shop here

Latest:
Baltic: Toon takeover

Premier League:
Liverpool (h)

UK Radio: live on talkSPORT

Metro: Simonside station is closed until August 29th.

Rail: The RMT union have announced strike action on Saturday August 23rd and Monday August 25th involving their members who work for Cross Country Trains. LNER have published guidance confirming that anyone with pre-booked Cross Country tickets cannot use their services.

Timetable amendments and cancellations are forecast.

Other scheduled disruptions are online here

Stats: 

Happy Monday? PL games at SJP on a Monday:

Sep 1993 Sheffield Wednesday (h) won 4-2
Mar 1996 Manchester United (h) lost 0-1
Mar 1996 West Ham (h) won 3-0
Sep 1996 Aston Villa (h) won 4-3
Dec 1996 Liverpool (h) drew 1-1
Apr 1999 Spurs (h) drew 1-1
Oct 1999 Derby County (h) won 2-0
Apr 2002 Fulham (h) drew 1-1
Aug 2002 West Ham (h) won 4-0
Nov 2002 Boro (h) won 2-0
Jan 2004 Fulham (h) won 3-1
Jan 2007 Manchester United (h) drew 2-2
Oct 2007 Spurs (h) won 3-1
Oct 2008 Manchester City (h) drew 2-2
Nov 2008 Aston Villa (h) won 2-0
Apr 2009 Portsmouth (h) drew 0-0
May 2009 Boro (h) won 3-1
Dec 2012 Wigan Athletic (h) won 3-0
Dec 2021 Manchester United (h) drew 1-1
May 2022 Arsenal (h) won 1-0
May 2023 Brighton (h) drew 0-0
Nov 2024 West Ham (h) lost 0-2

Reds @ SJP - Premier League era:

2024/25 Drew 3-3 Isak, Gordon, Schar
2023/24 Lost 1-2 Gordon
2022/23 Lost 0-2
2021/22 Lost 0-1
2020/21 Drew 0-0
2019/20 Lost 1-3 Gayle
2018/19 Lost 2-3 Atsu, Rondon
2017/18 Drew 1-1 Joselu
2015/16 Won 2-0 og(Skrtel), Wijnaldum
2014/15 Won 1-0 Perez
2013/14 Drew 2-2 Cabaye, Dummett
2012/13 Lost 0-6
2011/12 Won 2-0 Cisse 2
2010/11 Won 3-1 Nolan, Barton, Carroll
2008/09 Lost 1-5 Edgar
2007/08 Lost 0-3
2006/07 Won 2-1 Martins, Solano(pen)
2005/06 Lost 1-3 Ameobi
2004/05 Won 1-0 Robert
2003/04 Drew 1-1 Shearer (pen)
2002/03 Won 1-0 Robert
2001/02 Lost 0-2
2000/01 Won 2-1 Solano, Dyer
1999/00 Drew 2-2 Shearer, Ferguson
1998/99 Lost 1-4 Guivarc'h
1997/98 Lost 0-2 (LC)
1997/98 Lost 1-2 Watson
1996/97 Drew 1-1 Shearer
1995/96 Won 2-1 Ferdinand, Watson
1994/95 Drew 1-1 Lee
1993/94 Won 3-0 Cole 3

Latest PL result/fixtures:

Fri 22.08.2025:
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Sat 23.08.2025:
Manchester City v Spurs (12.30pm) TNT
Bournemouth v Wolves (3pm)
Brentford v Aston Villa (3pm)
Burnley v mackems (3pm)
Arsenal v Leeds United (5.30pm) Sky

Sun 24.08.2025:
Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest (2pm) Sky
Everton v Brighton & Hove Albion (2pm) Sky
Fulham v Manchester United (4.30pm) Sky

Mon 25.08.2025:
Newcastle v Liverpool (8pm) Sky

2025/26:
TV times

The Premier League have confirmed their live TV picks for October, with one Newcastle game rescheduled:

Sun 05.10.2025 Nottingham Forest (h) 2pm Sky
Sat 18.10.2025 Brighton (a) 3pm no live UK TV
Sat 25.10.2025 Fulham (h) 3pm  no live UK TV

The England U16 selection for two friendly matches against Italy later this month has been confirmed, with Newcastle defender Lesecond Yeutembip among those called up.

The Young Lions will face Italy in Rome on August 26th and 28th.

Sky Sports reported on Friday that Newcastle were set to conclude a loan deal sending full back Matt Target to Boro for the remainder of the season.

The 29 year-old is in the last year of his contract at SJP and hasn't started a Premier League game for the Magpies since September 2023.

Targett has made 47 senior competitive appearances since arriving on loan from Aston Villa during January 2022. That loan became a permanent switch ahead of the next season at a claimed cost of £15m.

The publication of a statement by Alexander Isak on Tuesday prompted the following response from NUFC:

"We are disappointed to have been alerted to a social media post by Alexander Isak this evening. We are clear in response that Alex remains under contract and that no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer.

"We want to keep our best players, but we also understand players have their own wishes and we listen to their views. As explained to Alex and his representatives, we must always take into consideration the best interests of Newcastle United, the team and our supporters in all decisions and we have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired. We do not foresee those conditions being met.

"This is a proud football club with proud traditions and we strive to retain our family feel. Alex remains part of our family and will be welcomed back when he is ready to rejoin his teammates."

The conditions of a sale have been interpreted variously as the claimed selling price and/or the acquisition of striking replacements.

For the latter to be as problematic due in part to Liverpool's decision to sign Hugo Ekitike remains inexplicable.

Statement from Alexander Isak on instagram, following his failure to attend Tuesday's PFA awards ceremony in Manchester:

"I'm proud to be recognised by my fellow professionals with a place in the PFA Premier League Team of the Season for 2024/25.

"First and foremost I want to thank my teammates and everyone at Newcastle United who has supported me along the way.

"I'm not at the ceremony tonight. With everything going on, it didn't feel right to be there.

"I've kept quiet for a long time while others have spoken. That silence has allowed people to push their own version of events, even though they know it doesn't reflect what was really said and agreed behind closed doors.

"The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To now act as if these issues are only emerging is misleading.

"When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can't continue. That's where things are for me right now – and why change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself.”

Alexander Isak

Our musings:

It's nice of the player to pipe up after his summertime disappearing act, having allowed others to do his work during the last month or so.

Whatever faint hopes of a temporary reconciliation would certainly now appear to be over - there's no patching this one up. That of course is the intention - arriving at the same point as submitting a transfer request, but without the financial jeopardy of doing that. Perish the thought.

What those promises were, who made them and when they were made will now prompt a further avalanche of media coverage to obscure the inconvenient fact that nothing was written down and there is no release clause.

If we're talking about statements, one in the form of an acceptable bid from a certain club would be a start - but doubtless they'll be keeping well clear until the dust settles after this latest development.

Rafa Benitez is fond of saying that "football is a lie", but the pursuit of truth in this unsavoury situation is becoming less important than solving the conundrum of replacing Isak.

PS: On July 24th, when Isak told Newcastle he wanted to "explore a move away from the club" we wrote that:

The message is clear: a concerted campaign from the North West involving briefings to sympathetic media outlets has succeeded in unsettling the player and encouraged his representatives. 

This latest development will doubtless prompt a backlash against Isak from disgruntled Newcastle fans, which will then be advanced as a reason for his inevitable exit.

The circus moves on to Gallowgate next Monday, with Sky on hand to record every chant and shout. And so it goes.

Michael Owen quotes on Isak, Wednesday - a mixture of justifiable comments and the inevitable pro-Anfield bluster:

"It’s been really fascinating watching it unfold. Isak stayed very quiet and, despite everybody talking like he’s done 100 statements, that’s the first thing he’s said.

"It’s nice for the public to have everything clarified. It’s interesting that he makes out that they’ve already had talks a long time ago about him potentially leaving, he feels that they’ve gone back on their word.

"He’s given them a great service, they’ve qualified for the Champions League, won a trophy, but he wants out.

"I get it from a footballer’s point of view, you only get one short career, you want to play for the best teams, and this might be his one big chance to do so, but obviously Newcastle hold the aces, they’ve got him under contract.

"Sadly, if you’re going to force a move, then it’s not pretty, the actions that a player takes can’t be pretty, and that’s what we’re seeing.

"Whether he puts in a transfer request or is refusing to play, which is obviously the end of the scale, there’s not much worse you can do than that, to refuse to come in.

"He’s doing everything he can to force that dream move and I hear it, I understand it but I don’t necessarily agree with it, but I also don’t sit here and say that no other footballer would do that, of course they would.

"There’s loads of pundits out there that are up in arms about what’s happening but I can guarantee that they’d be doing the same.

"This is one short career, it’s not like he came through the ranks, it’s not like he’s a born and bred Geordie, he is basically trying to be as good a player as he can be in a short career and if that means forcing a move to probably the best team in the world then I get why he’s doing it.

"I just look at the alternative, and nobody says a word nine times out of ten when clubs force a player out against their will, the reality is that happens all the time, the clubs do all the dirty stuff."

Buy 2025/26 season kits online here from JD Sports.

Meltdown:
Isak timeline

Sun 04.05 Isak scored his 54th Premier League goal (62nd in all competitions) for Newcastle - a penalty in a 1-1 draw at Brighton.

Sun 18.05 Isak missed the 0-1 Premier League loss at Arsenal, Howe told the media that he'd had a scan on a groin problem and rest rather than surgery was forecast.

Sun 25.05 Isak played the entirety of a 0-1 Premier loss at home to Everton, Newcastle's season-ending fixture.

Tue 27.05 Isak withdrew from Sweden's squad for two games in June due to a minor injury, presumably groin.

Mon 14.07 Isak was part of the Newcastle party that flew to Austria for a week-long training camp.

Tue 15.07 The Athletic reported that Liverpool had made it know they were prepared to pay £120m for Isak.

Sat 19.07 Isak was absent as Newcastle faced Celtic; Eddie Howe told the media that he'd allowed him to leave the squad as he needed "more training time" but that he expected him to join the club's upcoming tour of Asia.

Mon 21.07 Isak trained away from the rest of the squad at Darsley Park but reportedly cut short the session.

(some sources claim this may have been on 22.07)

Tue 22.07 Newcastle reportedly switched targets to Brentford's Yoane Wissa, to augment (or replace) Isak.

Wed 23.07 Liverpool completed the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike, a player Newcastle had attempted to sign to augment (or replace) Isak.

Thu 24.07 Isak wasn't on the plane to Singapore and multiple media outlets reported he'd "told Newcastle he wants to explore a move away from the club".

The Times wrote that Isak refused to accept improved terms and an extension to his current Newcastle contract, allegedly seeking £300k per week - an amount the club wouldn't be able to meet given their financial status.

Fri 25.07 The Guardian wrote that Isak had been offered a basic weekly wage of £600K by Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

Sat 26.07 Howe met the media in Singapore and had no update on Isak's thigh injury but called it minimal and was still confident that he would remain a Newcastle player. 

Sun 27.07 Newcastle lost 2-3 to Arsenal, Howe telling reporters there was "no chance" Isak would be in Korea. 

Mon 28.07 Newcastle arrived in Korea without Isak.

Tue 29.07 Howe told the media that no bid had been received for Isak and he remained a Magpie.

Wed 30.07 Spanish media claimed that Isak was training alone in San Sebastian.

Fri 01.08 Liverpool bid claimed to be £120m rejected.

Mon 04.08 Isak returns to Darsley Park but is made to train separately from the rest of the senior squad.

Fri 08.08 Omitted from the squad for a home friendly against Espanyol, Howe told the media Isak was fit but made him unavailable for selection. No disciplinary action had been taken against him that he was aware of.

Sat 16.08 Isak wasn't involved in the Premier League season opener at Aston Villa, with travelling supporters airing "one greedy bastard" chants after full time.

Tue 19.08 Isak released a statement explaining his absence from the PFA awards ceremony, which included this:

"The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To now act as if these issues are only emerging is misleading." 

Tue 19.08 NUFC released their own statement.

1953 sunderland (h) 
2-1 (1-1)
Division One
P1, 2pts, 9th/22
Mitchell(33pen), Keeble(61)
Shackleton(2)
58,516 
Debut for Jimmy Scoular at right half, who was also made captain in succession to the recently-retired Joe Harvey.

Former Magpie Shack blasted an early free kick through the Newcastle wall, before Vic Keeble was fouled to give United a penalty.

Mitchell took the kick but mis-hit it, the ball trickling over the goal line as mackem 'keeper Jimmy Cowan lay helpless over the other side of the goal - having dived in anticipation of where the ball should have gone....

John McSeveney then scored direct from a corner for the visitors, ruled out by the linesman who spotted a push on 'keeper Ronnie Simpson.

The winner came when Keeble headed in a Milburn corner - although the two points were only confirmed thanks to Simpson's late penalty save from Trevor Ford.

1956 Cardiff City (a)
2-5 (1-2)
Division One
P2, 2pts, 16th/22
Davies(5,63)
McSeveney(10), Nugent(40,55), Ford(66,77)
35,833
Trevor Ford was rather more successful against United on the third anniversary of his missing a penalty while with the mackems.

Fellow former Rokerite John McSeveney also netted, having been denied by a linesman's decision in 1953.

1959 While the first team were being thrashed by Spurs, Newcastle's reserve side began their Central League season with a 2-2 draw against Derby County.

Bobby Mitchell's penalty and a Ken Hale goal won a point at the Baseball Ground.

1962 Middlesbrough (a)
2-4 (1-1)
Division Two
P2, 1pts, 15th/22
Fell(26), Thomas(58) 
Peacock(45), Gibson(53),
Kaye(80pen), Burbeck(90+1)
30,841
A controversial night at Ayresome Park; United incensed by an 80th minute penalty awarded against them by referee N.Hough for handball.

Arthur Kaye fired past Dave Hollins once the lengthy protests had subsided - only for the referee to order a retake as he hadn't signalled for the kick to be taken.

Kaye duly netted his second attempt and Ron Burbeck made it 2-4 in time added on.

Revenge would be swift for the Magpies, who inflicted a 6-1 defeat on Boro in the return game at SJP a week later.

1970 Crystal Palace (a) 
0-1 (0-1)
Division One
P3, 2pts, 18th/22
Birchenall(27)
27,287
Following a 0-3 loss at Stoke City, United were second best on the road again, Alan Birchenall's first goal since moving from Chelsea enough to secure the home win. 

Newcastle were without injured duo Frank Clark and Ollie Burton, while former Magpie Jimmy Scott was omitted from the Palace side. Within a year had returned to his hometown club Falkirk.