Sweden on Wednesday named Alexander Isak in its squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, even though the striker has yet to feature for Newcastle this season amid uncertainty over his future.
Isak was included in a 24-man squad announced by Sweden coach Jon Dahl Tomasson for matches against Slovenia and Kosovo.
“I am very happy that Alexander Isak wants to be in the squad, he is a huge player,” Tomasson said. “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.”
Regarded as one of the world’s leading forwards, Isak expressed frustration with Newcastle in a social media post last week, claiming the club broke promises regarding an agreement that would allow him to leave, with Liverpool reportedly interested.
He has been absent from Newcastle’s opening two Premier League fixtures — against Aston Villa and Liverpool — and has been training away from the first team.
According to Sweden’s football federation, Isak is expected to join the national team in Stockholm on Monday, coinciding with the closing of the transfer window.