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Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe says he has not seen or spoken to striker Alexander Isak for a week and has described the saga as a “lose-lose situation”.

The Sweden forward wants to join Liverpool but a £110m bid was rejected by Newcastle earlier this month.

That led to the 25-year-old releasing a statement this week saying Newcastle had broken promises made to him.

Isak believed he would be allowed to leave if a big club came in for him and offered an appropriate fee – but Newcastle denied that was the case in a statement in response.

The player is now training apart from the first team and missed Newcastle’s opening game of the new Premier League season. He will not feature when Newcastle face Liverpool on Monday.

“I haven’t seen him this week but when I see him we speak as normal, there are no issues there,” said Howe.

“It’s a difficult situation from both sides and it’s far from ideal for both parties.

“When we bump in to each we speak but as I say I’ve not seen him this week as he’s training later on and detached from the group. We will catch up at some stage and hopefully speak soon.”

Howe said he would welcome the player back into the fold should he remain at Newcastle after the window closes.

“Yes, of course. He’s contracted to us, he’s our player. My wish is that he would be playing on Monday night with us. But he won’t be and that’s regrettable,” he said.

While Newcastle fans sang critical chants about Isak at Aston Villa last week, Howe believes that despite the saga his team-mates would support his reintegration.

“I have no doubt about how the players will feel. They will feel same way I do. Alex is a fantastic player, he’s a good person, a good character and a good lad,” Howe added.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe says he has not seen or spoken to striker Alexander Isak for a week and has described the saga as a “lose-lose situation”.

The Sweden forward wants to join Liverpool but a £110m bid was rejected by Newcastle earlier this month.

That led to the 25-year-old releasing a statement this week saying Newcastle had broken promises made to him.

Isak believed he would be allowed to leave if a big club came in for him and offered an appropriate fee – but Newcastle denied that was the case in a statement in response.

The player is now training apart from the first team and missed Newcastle’s opening game of the new Premier League season. He will not feature when Newcastle face Liverpool on Monday.

“I haven’t seen him this week but when I see him we speak as normal, there are no issues there,” said Howe.

“It’s a difficult situation from both sides and it’s far from ideal for both parties.

“When we bump in to each we speak but as I say I’ve not seen him this week as he’s training later on and detached from the group. We will catch up at some stage and hopefully speak soon.”

Howe said he would welcome the player back into the fold should he remain at Newcastle after the window closes.

“Yes, of course. He’s contracted to us, he’s our player. My wish is that he would be playing on Monday night with us. But he won’t be and that’s regrettable,” he said.

While Newcastle fans sang critical chants about Isak at Aston Villa last week, Howe believes that despite the saga his team-mates would support his reintegration.

“I have no doubt about how the players will feel. They will feel same way I do. Alex is a fantastic player, he’s a good person, a good character and a good lad,” Howe added.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe says he has not seen or spoken to striker Alexander Isak for a week and has described the saga as a “lose-lose situation”.

The Sweden forward wants to join Liverpool but a £110m bid was rejected by Newcastle earlier this month.

That led to the 25-year-old releasing a statement this week saying Newcastle had broken promises made to him.

Isak believed he would be allowed to leave if a big club came in for him and offered an appropriate fee – but Newcastle denied that was the case in a statement in response.

The player is now training apart from the first team and missed Newcastle’s opening game of the new Premier League season. He will not feature when Newcastle face Liverpool on Monday.

“I haven’t seen him this week but when I see him we speak as normal, there are no issues there,” said Howe.

“It’s a difficult situation from both sides and it’s far from ideal for both parties.

“When we bump in to each we speak but as I say I’ve not seen him this week as he’s training later on and detached from the group. We will catch up at some stage and hopefully speak soon.”

Howe said he would welcome the player back into the fold should he remain at Newcastle after the window closes.

“Yes, of course. He’s contracted to us, he’s our player. My wish is that he would be playing on Monday night with us. But he won’t be and that’s regrettable,” he said.

While Newcastle fans sang critical chants about Isak at Aston Villa last week, Howe believes that despite the saga his team-mates would support his reintegration.

“I have no doubt about how the players will feel. They will feel same way I do. Alex is a fantastic player, he’s a good person, a good character and a good lad,” Howe added.

Women’s Rugby World Cup – Pool C: Ireland v Japan

Venue: Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton Date: Sunday, 24 August Kick-off: 12: 00 BST

Ireland co-captain Edel McMahon has recovered from injury to start Sunday’s Women’s Rugby World Cup Pool C opener against Japan in Northampton.

Exeter’s McMahon did not play in either of Ireland’s two warm-up games because of a knee issue, but is named at open-side flanker in one of four changes from the warm-up defeat by Canada on 9 August.

McMahon will lead the team alongside Sam Monaghan, who starts in the second row. Monaghan’s inclusion at lock means Fiona Tuite moves into the back row alongside Ulster team-mate Brittany Hogan and McMahon.

In midfield, head coach Scott Bemand has selected Aoife Dalton and Eve Higgins, with Enya Breen dropping to the bench and Nancy McGillivray not in the squad.

Having not been included for the loss to Canada, wing Amee-Leigh Costigan returns to the back three alongside Stacey Flood and Beibhinn Parsons, who scored two tries against the Canadians.

Aoibheann Reilly and Dannah O’Brien continue their half-back partnership.

“We’ve picked a squad we feel is appropriate for getting the performance and the result out of this first game”, said Bemand.

Niamh O’Dowd, Neve Jones and Linda Djougang start in an unchanged front row.

Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, the only player in Ireland’s squad with World Cup experience, is the replacement hooker on the bench alongside former England prop Ellena Perry, who made her Ireland debut in the warm-up win over Scotland earlier this month.

Star back row Aoife Wafer – who was named Women’s Six Nations player of the tournament earlier this year – was ruled out by Ireland earlier this week.

Wafer, 22, has remained in Dublin to continue her recovery from knee surgery, but is expected to link up with the squad after the Japan game.

Sunday’s game at Franklin’s Gardens will be Ireland’s first in the World Cup since 2017, having failed to qualify for the 2021 tournament.

Wafer, who will join Harlequins from Leinster after the tournament, scored four tries for Ireland in the Six Nations but missed the last game of the championship after damaging knee ligaments against Wales.

Her fitness has become increasingly significant for Ireland following injuries to fellow back rowers Dorothy Wall and Erin King, who will both miss the World Cup.

Women’s Rugby World Cup – Pool C: Ireland v Japan

Venue: Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton Date: Sunday, 24 August Kick-off: 12: 00 BST

Ireland co-captain Edel McMahon has recovered from injury to start Sunday’s Women’s Rugby World Cup Pool C opener against Japan in Northampton.

Exeter’s McMahon did not play in either of Ireland’s two warm-up games because of a knee issue, but is named at open-side flanker in one of four changes from the warm-up defeat by Canada on 9 August.

McMahon will lead the team alongside Sam Monaghan, who starts in the second row. Monaghan’s inclusion at lock means Fiona Tuite moves into the back row alongside Ulster team-mate Brittany Hogan and McMahon.

In midfield, head coach Scott Bemand has selected Aoife Dalton and Eve Higgins, with Enya Breen dropping to the bench and Nancy McGillivray not in the squad.

Having not been included for the loss to Canada, wing Amee-Leigh Costigan returns to the back three alongside Stacey Flood and Beibhinn Parsons, who scored two tries against the Canadians.

Aoibheann Reilly and Dannah O’Brien continue their half-back partnership.

“We’ve picked a squad we feel is appropriate for getting the performance and the result out of this first game”, said Bemand.

Niamh O’Dowd, Neve Jones and Linda Djougang start in an unchanged front row.

Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, the only player in Ireland’s squad with World Cup experience, is the replacement hooker on the bench alongside former England prop Ellena Perry, who made her Ireland debut in the warm-up win over Scotland earlier this month.

Star back row Aoife Wafer – who was named Women’s Six Nations player of the tournament earlier this year – was ruled out by Ireland earlier this week.

Wafer, 22, has remained in Dublin to continue her recovery from knee surgery, but is expected to link up with the squad after the Japan game.

Sunday’s game at Franklin’s Gardens will be Ireland’s first in the World Cup since 2017, having failed to qualify for the 2021 tournament.

Wafer, who will join Harlequins from Leinster after the tournament, scored four tries for Ireland in the Six Nations but missed the last game of the championship after damaging knee ligaments against Wales.

Her fitness has become increasingly significant for Ireland following injuries to fellow back rowers Dorothy Wall and Erin King, who will both miss the World Cup.