Newcastle United have been hit with a major setback over the fitness of Swedish international Alexander Isak...

What's the latest?

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has confirmed that the striker is now set to be out until after the World Cup, which ends in December, due to injury.

Ahead of the club's clash with Everton at St. James' Park tonight, the journalist said on Twitter: 

"Big blow for Newcastle that Alexander Isak won’t play again until after the World Cup. Frustrating start for the Swede who’s only played three games since record-breaking arrival. Allan Saint-Maximin also misses visit of Everton tomorrow with hamstring set-back."

Bad news

This news is rather bad news for the head coach and indeed the club, as losing Isak is a seismic blow for Newcastle heading into the next few weeks before the World Cup starts.

The Daily Mail's Craig Hope had reported that the striker would miss three matches ahead of the club's clash with Manchester United but the forward is now on course to be absent for seven games in all competitions - four more than initially predicted.

This comes after he had already been watching on from the sidelines for the wins over Fulham and Brentford, with his last appearance coming in the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth last month.

Isak had enjoyed a superb start to life at St. James' Park, with two goals in his first three Premier League outings, and Howe will now not be able to benefit from the forward's clinical finishing until the end of December, something that represents a hefty blow to their ambitions.

Callum Wilson has scored three goals in six games this season but his injury record does not make for great reading and there is a chance that he breaks down before the World Cup break, as he has missed 43 matches since joining the Toon in the summer of 2020.

The Magpies paid a club-record fee for Isak to sign him from Real Sociedad in the summer and this suggests that they felt like he would be a difference-maker for the team on the pitch, as they were willing to splash out such a large fee to acquire his services.

Instead of winning matches in the Premier League, the 23-year-old will now be watching on from the sidelines for the rest of the first half of the season. It is evidently a big setback for Newcastle.