Coach Jon Dahl Tomasson says the World Cup is important to the striker and he “wants to be part of our squad”
Alexander Isak has been called up by Sweden for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Kosovo, even though his club future remains unresolved.
The Newcastle striker has yet to play this season and has been training away from the main group amid interest from Liverpool.
Sweden coach Jon Dahl Tomasson revealed he spoke with the striker, who expressed his interest in joining the squad.
“I am very happy that Alexander Isak wants to be in the squad,” said Tomasson.
“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.”
Isak missed Newcastle’s pre-season activities as well as their two Premier League games of the season so far. He was told not to attend a club barbecue ahead of the new season and has been ordered to attend training only in the evenings, after the main squad have already left.
He released a statement last week saying he had lost trust in Newcastle and called for an exit.
A delegation from the club’s majority owners the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, as well as minority owner Jamie Reuben, held talks with the striker on Monday but he has remained adamant about leaving.
