Newcastle kicked off their pre-season preparations with a crushing 4-0 defeat to Celtic but much of the focus as the game kicked off was on an absentee from the Magpies squad.
Talismanic striker Alexander Isak was nowhere to be seen as the Premier League side’s starting XI and substitutes were announced prior to the game.
Isak’s name has flooded the back pages over the past week following reported interest from Liverpool.
The Reds look to have turned their attention to Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, who Newcastle have also been targeting.
However, there were some murmurings of doubt from Magpies fans following Isak’s exclusion on Saturday.
They can now breathe easy with the club insisting that it was purely a case of his minutes being managed and it bares no connection to his future.
Alexander Isak was not included in Newcastle’s squad for Saturday’s friendly vs Celtic
The Scottish champions thrashed the Premier League side 4-0 at Celtic park
Newcastle have insisted that Isak’s exclusion is unrelated to his future at the club
Isak is believed to have been managing an injury towards the end of last season, in which he finished second in the race for the Golden Boot.
His cub have maintained that he is not for sale and are under no immediate pressure to sell with three years remaining on his contract.
Saturday’s meeting with the Scottish champions was Newcastle’s first official pre-season tie, following a behind-closed-doors 4-0 win over Carlisle United a week ago.
The two sides were competing for the first-ever adidas Trophy at Celtic Park in Glasgow.
The hosts took the lead through Arne Engels’ penalty before Johnny Kenny’s strike doubled it shortly before half-time.
New signing Anthony Elanga came on to make his debut following the break but things only got worse for the visitors.
Celtic extended their lead in the opening minutes of the second-half through Yang Hjun-jun’s close-range effort before Liam Scales’ header rounded off a difficult afternoon for Eddie Howe’s side.
