Alexander Isak question answered as Newcastle draw Premier League opener

Robin Bairner

• 16 Aug 2025 14:55 BST
• 5 min read

Analysis

It was ironic that ahead of Newcastle United’s Premier League opener against Aston Villa, all the talk surrounded Alexander Isak.

The Swede, of course, was destined to be absent. Pushing to leave Newcastle to join Liverpool, Isak is on strike as the campaign started.

Unsurprisingly, the Magpies lacked cutting edge without their star man. Against the 10 men of Villa for more than half an hour after Ezri Konsa was dismissed, they were a blunt attacking force.

Current ETV

Alexander Isak

F (C)

Newcastle Utd.

Alexander Isak

F (C)

Newcastle Utd.

€117.1M

ETV Range

€105.4M - €128.8M

View full profile

What chances were created largely came early in the match and the scoreless draw was entirely fitting as Newcastle’s speedy forwards stretched the Villans but rarely threatened to break them.

Anthony Elanga broke in behind once but was denied by Marco Bizot while Antony Gordon’s best opportunity was foiled 30 yards from goal by a crude tug from Konsa. He would have seven shots but never really threatened.

Newcastle’s Villa display confirms three things

This game was always about one thing for Newcastle: how could they perform without Isak? Manager Eddie Howe was given the answer he probably expected.

There is no question that the Magpies are not the same side without the 25-year-old. Last season, they failed to win any of the four Premier League games in which he was absent.

Aside from Newcastle’s inability to win, those fixtures all had two things in common with the Villa Park draw. The Magpies were unable to score – they netted just one in four without Isak last season – but they were able to fashion chances.

Playing without Isak is not a problem; scoring without him is. And that’s why Newcastle have to resolve the No.9 issue as rapidly as possible.

The squad certainly seems braced for his exit as Gordon admitted to TNT Sport: “It’s been difficult. We’re such a tight-knit group. This is the first thing that’s happened, it’s tested us. But we’ve still got that spirit and togetherness. We work on it every day. It’s never going to go regardless of individuals. We’re a tough group and we always will be.”

With it increasingly looking like a matter of when and not if Isak leaves, there is a new question for Newcastle to answer: who do they replace him with?

All will be revealed in the closing fortnight of the transfer window.

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