Newcastle United

Eddie Howe on when the club can resolve the Alexander Isak situation: "I'm not a fortune teller, I've got no way of knowing what will happen in terms of getting some finality on the situation.

"The club has to act in the best interests of Newcastle United and it will do that in every situation. I think it's a lose-lose situation for us to a degree as I don't think we can come out of this winning.

"It's a difficult situation to manage in the sense of what he's contributed to the football club and how professional he has been. It's been an unfortunate couple of months that look like it's coming to an end soon."

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe on if he can trust Isak again: "Of course. Trust is earnt both ways and that has to be a relationship that you develop.

"I've gone on that journey with Alex so I don't think we have any issues on a footballing side at all. I hope I can work with him again and get him back to his very best."

Newcastle United

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Eddie Howe on transfer activity: "We are working hard on incomings, I wouldn't say we are close. We still have a little bit of time but that time will go really quickly.

"I think the squad is in a good place but we are still working on replacing Callum Wilson and that is the big area we are focusing on."

Manchester City

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Manchester City defender Ruben Dias has signed a new two-year contract extension until 2029.

The deal contains the option of another year.

Should City opt for the additional 12 months, it would take the centre-back's stay at the club to 10 years.

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe on whether the players will welcome Alexander Isak back: "There is no doubt how the players will feel, they will feel the same way as I do. Alex is an outstanding player and a very good person and a good character. He wants to succeed in his career and this has been a really difficult situation for him and for the players that we have to see us without him. If Alex decided to come back and play for us the players would welcome him back."

Newcastle United

No team news from Eddie Howe. "As far as I know, everyone's alright," he said.

Newcastle United

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Eddie Howe on the atmosphere on Monday: "The first home game is always going to be electric. I love experience those nights with the energy that the crowd bring us and I have no doubt that this will be a really passionate display from the home support. We need to harness that and use it but not be reckless with it, we need to concentrate on the game and not get too emotional."

Newcastle United

Asked if the way the Alexander Isak saga has played out has saddened him, Eddie Howe said: "Yeah. I don't think it had to be this way."

Newcastle United

Howe on reintegrating Isak: "I think it's a conversation for another day. At the moment that is not an option for us so rather than talk hypothetical's, I'd rather talk when we get to that point and try and get the best for Alex and get the best for the team. Until the point, we are better off focussing on the players we have available for the team."

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe says he believes Newcastle fans can forgive Alexander Isak if he comes back into the team.

"Yes I believe they can, the supporters will always react off how a player plays and what he gives the team," Howe said.

"There is always two sides to every story."

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe on how he is dealing with the Alexander Isak situation: "Of course these situations are far from ideal in terms of talking press wise. But as soon as I leave here I'm back with the team and the job never changes. The outside perception is one that is totally different to the normal.

"I haven't seen him this week but when I see him we speak as normal, there's no issues there. Of course 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."

Newcastle United

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Eddie Howe on Jacob Ramsey: "He will be available, of course we still have training sessions to go but he's been really impressive in his first few days. He's intelligent and he will add a lot to the team and I think he has a lot of standout qualities."

"I was pleasantly surprised, he is slightly bigger than I thought. It was the same when I met Tino [Livramento], Jacob is 6 foot 1 and he has a presence."

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe said he has "no way of knowing" what will happen with the Alexander Isak situation before the end of the transfer window.

"It's a lose-lose situation. I don't think we can come out of this winning in any situation."

Newcastle United

Asked how the rest of the squad feel about the Alexander Isak sitation, Eddie Howe said: "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.

"If Alex wanted to come back and play for us the players would welcome him."

Newcastle United

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Eddie Howe on playing Anthony Gordon as a striker: "He has done it enough to be able to do the job really well for the team. I have played him there a number of times both as a starter and as a substitute. He plays it differently to other strikers but that can be a positive in the respect that he has devastating pace and a strong work ethic.

"Of course he's scored goals historically from wide areas but also from central areas and I think you can over play the change of position and I think he enjoys the role and he played really well last week. He had a lot of chances and a lot of shots so I thought it was a good display from him."

Newcastle United

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe on Alexander Isak: "My preference for these things it that it doesn't happen publicly. Everything is better dealt with behind closed doors but in this situation, needs must and in this situation the club has spoken and justifiably so in that moment."

On whether he can return to the squad: "Of course [I want him to], he is contracted to us and he is our player. My wish is that he will be playing with us on Monday and 100% I want to see him back in a Newcastle shirt."

Newcastle United

Asked if he has been speaking to Alexander Isak, Howe said: "When I see him we speak as normal, there are no issues between us.

"When we see each other we are fine."

Newcastle United

Howe says he "100%" wants to see Isak "back in a Newcastle shirt".

Newcastle United

"No, there's been no change" about Alexander Isak's sitation, says Eddie Howe.

"Yeah, he wont be part of the squad for this weekend's game."

Newcastle United

Right, let's hear what Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has to say.