Official update on Isak, Gordon and Willock - Good and bad news ahead of Man Utd

Last night and the Premier League weekend in general couldn't have gone much better for Newcastle United.

Rivals dropped points, we strolled to a 3-0 win at Leicester, kept a clean sheet and are back in the top five, still with a game in hand on many around us.

After the game, Eddie Howe offered an update on the fitness and availability of Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Joe Willock ahead of a busy run of games, sharing a pretty mixed update on all three.

Howe hopeful on Isak

Heading into last night's game against Leicester, there was much speculation over whether or not star man Alexander Isak would start, particularly after the Swede only managed an hour midweek against Brentford.

But Isak did in fact lead the line on Monday night, and Eddie Howe looks to have confirmed that there’s no injury worries surrounding the striker despite some groin tightness in recent weeks:

“I think he’s 100% fit, I wouldn’t have taken any risks with him tonight if he wasn’t," Howe said after the match.

"It was an opportunity to rest him with the game in a good position for us. But no, I don’t think we’ll have to manage him from this point onwards, fingers crossed he’ll be fine.”

Isak's lingering groin issues have been a slight concern lately, but Howe seemed bullish that he won't need to be managed from this point onwards as we prepare for three games in the next 10 days against Man Utd, Palace and Aston Villa.

Gordon and Willock updates

Two players who didn’t make the travelling squad were Anthony Gordon and Joe Willock.

Gordon is yet to play for Newcastle since early March due to a mix of suspension and injury, meanwhile concussion protocols ruled Willock out of last night's win.

Unfortunately, Howe issued a concerning update on Gordon - who "wasn't close" to making the game - and revealed that Willock looks set to sit out another game ahead of Sunday's clash with Man Utd.

“Anthony wasn’t close (to play Leicester)," Howe said. "He hasn’t been able to train with us yet. He’s still feeling the effects of that tackle with England. We hope that we may see him soon, but I’ve got no certainty on that.”

Concerning Willock, the Premier League’s mandatory concussion protocol looks to have ruled him out definitely “Joe’s concussion means I don’t think he will make the weekend.”