As Howe, his staff and players continue their pre-season preparations in South Korea, Isak has flown over to his former club Real Sociedad to train. The Swedish international moved to St James’ Park from the Reale Arena in 2022, signing a six-year contract with the Magpies.

Alexander Isak has opted to train individually at Real Sociedad’s facilities as speculation about his Newcastle United future gathers pace. The striker, who joined the Magpies from the Spanish side in 2022 for a club-record £63 million, was left out of the club’s pre-season tour of Singapore due to what has been described as a minor thigh injury.