Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is not expected to return to the Toon’s starting lineup until later this month.
The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope has said that Isak’s return has been delayed further, with him not expected back until the end of January at the earliest.
The 23-year-old has endured a frustrating start to his Newcastle career after arriving in the summer as the club’s statement signing from Real Sociedad for a club-record £63m.
Despite scoring twice in his only three games so far, the Swede has been missing since the beginning of October after suffering a torn thigh muscle.
Hope revealed on his YouTube channel that despite previously expecting Isak back next week, a new return date for the striker has been proposed, with the club keen to ensure that he fully recovers.
He said: “From what I understand on Isak, I think they are just taking their time.
“The nature of that injury, a torn thigh muscle, and to suffer the same injury twice, I think you can’t bring someone back too soon from that, especially when Chris Wood is doing well; you’ve got Callum Wilson, his absence wasn’t serious.
“I think there is an element of caution there with Isak, but saying that, we had expected to see him perhaps involved in those cup games next week.
“From what we’re hearing, we don’t think that’s going to be the case and it’ll be later in the month for Isak.”
TIF Thoughts on Hope’s comments…
Isak was a huge addition to St James’ Park with him netting 44 goals and eight assists in just three years in San Sebastian.
But with his current trouble potentially being a reoccurrence of a similar problem, albeit not as serious, that saw him miss four games in his last campaign in Spain.
Newcastle’s form hasn’t suffered without him, with Callum Wilson picking up six league goals in just 10 starts as they occupy third place in the league table.
With a serious chance at Champions League football next year, Eddie Howe will want his record signing fit and firing as soon as possible – but the last thing either club or player can afford is a return that risks his long-term fitness.