Alexander Isak injury update after Newcastle United beat Brentford | Football

Eddie Howe has confirmed that Alexander Isak was forced off during Newcastle United’s 2-1 win against Brentford on Wednesday night due to a groin injury.

Isak opened the scoring at St James’ Park on the stroke of half time before Bryan Mbuemo pulled Brentford level from the penalty spot in the 66th minute.

But Newcastle secured the victory with Sandro Tonali’s goal and Howe’s side now sit fifth in the Premier League, one point behind fourth-placed Manchester City.

Isak, meanwhile, has now scored 20 goals in the Premier League this season but the Sweden international is now struggling with a groin issue ahead of Newcastle’s next Premier League match away to Leicester City on Monday night.

‘You’re defined by ability to score goals in this league, and your attacking players really have to take that responsibility,’ Howe said after Newcastle’s win against Brentford.

‘I think he’s [Isak] done that unbelievably well since he’s been here.

‘It’s not easy to do. I don’t think this was his finest game, and I don’t think he’ll be surprised at me saying that. But he was in the right place at the right time. He maybe got a bit of luck with the finish, but he’s done that consistently, he’s always in the right place.

‘I think on another day he would have scored more but I don’t think he was 100 per cent. That’s why we withdrew him.

‘We hope it’s nothing too serious but he just wasn’t feeling 100 per cent in his groin. He was just a little bit unsure in his movement, so that’s why we withdrew him.’

Howe also revealed that Kieran Tripper, who was substituted late on against Brentford, is also nursing a groin complaint.

‘He said it was like a cramp sensation in his groin,’ Howe said.

‘We hope it’s nothing serious, but that is the negative today. We’ve got a few niggles, and we just hope they’re nothing serious. We have such a small squad as you could see from our bench, so we can’t afford to pick up any more injuries.’

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