Newcastle United are keen to keep spirits high going into the clash with West Ham on Monday night after the week from hell at the club's Benton base.
Having confirmed that Lewis Hall was out for the rest of the season, Newcastle stopped short on the same treatment for Dutchman Sven Botman with reports suggesting that he was going under the knife to solve a knee issue. Botman then appeared to play down the claims when posting on Instagram on Thursday afternoon.
Despite being back in training and deemed "close" to facing Brighton & Hove Albion, the centre-back's season was considered over after just 455 first-team minutes. However, head coach Eddie Howe is set to deal with the questions on Botman at his Press conference this morning.
With rumours swirling around the training ground, on the back of a couple of injury leaks, Newcastle were at least able to have Alexander Isak on show in training ahead of the encounter with the Hammers.
The sight of Isak at work gave Newcastle supporters a massive lift ahead of the Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool. Isak's presence is everything for the 32,000 fans who landed tickets for the big one against the Reds.
Isak was pictured smiling in training and also took part in the club's Carabao Cup photo shoot with the Sweden star set to spearhead the Magpies' Wembley hopes. When asked how he was doing injury wise he said on Wednesday: "I am fine."
On Sunday, head coach Eddie Howe had said: "Alex just felt a bit of general tightness. I don’t think it was an injury, it was just general tightness, but we felt as though he had to come off."
There was also better news from the treatment room on Jamaal Lascelles with the centre-back making good progress from an ACL injury. The club captain will miss the Carabao Cup final and the rest of the March programme but is keeping an open mind on his comeback date.
