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Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak is expected to be fine for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool in a couple of weeks with the problem that saw him miss out at Anfield midweek understood only to be minor.

Without Isak, Newcastle didn't manage a single shot on Alisson Becker's goal at Anfield on Wednesday with Liverpool winning 2-0 to move 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

From there, it was pretty clear on the matchday [at Liverpool] that he wouldn't play."

Without Isak in the team, Newcastle has not scored a Premier League goal from open play so far this season.

That perhaps explains the no-risk policy being applied to him ahead of the trip to Wembley in a couple of weeks' time.

The last Magpies star to score from open play without Isak in the side was Matt Ritchie in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth last February.

Isak has scored 21 goals in 30 appearances so far this season but Howe is hopeful his Newcastle side won’t have to deal with being without its talisman for long.

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Alexander Isak arrives for the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield.

"Hopefully we don't have that dilemma [of being without Isak]," Howe said.
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