Newcastle's Isak named in Sweden squad

Alexander Isak has scored 16 goals in 52 appearances for Sweden

Alexander Isak has been named in the Sweden squad despite not playing any football this season as he pushes to leave Newcastle.

Isak is among the 24 players named by Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson for World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Kosovo next month.

The 25-year-old is training away from his Newcastle team-mates after making clear he wants to join Liverpool despite having three years left on his contract.

Fellow striker Viktor Gyokeres, who scored his first two goals for Arsenal at the weekend, is also included in Tomasson's squad.

The Sweden coach said: "I am very happy that Alexander Isak wants to be in the squad, he is a huge player.

"The situation he is in is not perfect and he has not trained with the team. But he is a player who can decide matches and he wants to be part of our squad. The World Cup is important for Alexander Isak."

Liverpool have yet to make a fresh bid for Isak since an offer of £110m was rejected at the start of this month.

Isak has since released a statement on social media accusing Newcastle of breaking a promise to allow him to leave this summer.

The Magpies have denied making such a commitment and continue to insist Isak is not for sale.

'We hope to have our best player back' - Guimaraes on Isak

Isak and Guimaraes helped Newcastle win the EFL Cup last season

Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes says the club "hope to have our best player back", with Premier League fixtures against Leeds and Wolves approaching.

"We're really missing our striker, a player who scored more than 20 goals in the Premier League last season, so of course he's someone we feel the absence of," Magpies captain Guimaraes told ESPN Brasil.

"But unfortunately, this is a situation that neither I nor any other player can control."

Guimaraes also said he has not spoken to the Sweden international throughout the stand-off between him and the club.

"I haven't had any contact with him," the Brazil midfielder added.

"We've been training in the mornings, and he trains at a different time, when no-one from the team is around.

"As captain, and for us players, it's a tough situation because we want to have the best players with us. That's something we can't control. The club, the management, the owners are dealing with it, and I hope it gets sorted out in the best way."