Will Newcastle’s star signing Isak be fit before the World Cup is over?

Newcastle’s €70m record signing Alexander Isak has suffered a blow in his recovery from a thigh injury and is likely to be out until after the World Cup. It is a major problem for Newcastle United who forked out a huge sum to Real Sociedad for the forward. Isak had performed brilliantly in Spain and was even being followed by top tier teams such as Barcelona.

December return looking unlikely

The Daily Mail revealed that the Swedish striker had stopped training with a thigh issue and alarm bells were ringing. Isak was expected to return to the group this week, but Eddie Howe has since confirmed the 23-year-old will be out “for a while” and “probably not” before next month’s World Cup.

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The striker’s transfer to the Premier League was finalised at the end of August and was one that sent shockwaves throughout the league. Eddie Howe’s team paid an eye-watering amount of money for the striker, showcasing to the league their intent on creating a strong project. However, by mid-September, the Swedish star was out injured. What seemed like something minor at first has turned into a genuine cause for concern and his expected return to the pitch this calendar year is up in the air.

More matches missed

Isak missed the first Premier League game of the season before playing against Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth. In those three matches he scored two goals: it appeared as though everything was going to plan and the striker was proving to be a huge hit with the demanding fanbase. However, everything turned upside down in mid-September: the following three matches saw Isak watch on from the sidelines. When it seemed that he was returning to the scene with crucial goals for his team, he has since since found his recovery period to be tougher than expected.