Newcastle United Manager Eddie Howe could not say if Alexander Isak will be in good shape for his Premier League final against Everton after missing their 1-0 defeat against Arsenal.
Isak was a surprise omission from the team with a groin injury, and the absence of the man who has 27 goals all the competitions this season was strongly felt at the Emirates Stadium.
Newcastle dominated the first half, but found David Raya in exceptional form in the aim of the arsenal when he made five stops to maintain the scores.
Arsenal was well improved in the second half and the superb long -term effort by Declan Rice settled the match, leaving Newcastle to need a victory on Everton next day to be sure of the Champions League football next season.
Newcastle will have to say that victory, but their task will be more difficult if Isak is not involved, Callum Wilson having had trouble having an impact against Arsenal.
“He has a little swelling in a muscle in the groin. So we hope that he will go well fairly quickly, but we do not know how he will be considered next week,” Howwe at BBC Sport told the physical condition of his star attacker.
“Obviously, it is a quick turnaround, so it only has seven days to get in shape. The crossed fingers, we can get there.”
From the drop in performance in Newcastle after the interval, Howe added: “From our point of view, we have become a little too passive.
“We were a little sloppy on the ball at the start of this second half, where we had been excellent on the balloon before that.
“I think there are things to learn, but I think you have spells like that far from your home, but I think we may not be adapted quickly enough.
“I think we have to take all the positive points of this performance in the first half, we looked strong, dangerous, we were also a real threat of counterattack in the game.
“I thought we had defended quite well. Nick [Pope] Didn’t have much to do in the game. Disappointed to lose, think we can do better, but it was a very strong performance. »»
