Alexander Isak saga causes Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney disagreement – 'Be professional!'

Newcastle striker Alexander Isak faces an awkward return to the squad if a summer transfer to Liverpool doesn't materialise. However, pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney share opposing ideas on whether he can rescue his career in the north-east.

Isak, 25, has angered many around St James' Park after doubling down on his desire to leave Newcastle. The Swede was the subject of an unsuccessful £110million bid from Liverpool earlier this summer but continues to campaign for a move, even though that offer was turned down.

Newcastle's frontman recently released a statement insisting "promises were broken" after he was supposedly told he could leave the club this summer. The Magpies have since responded with a statement of their own, denying those claims, putting the two parties at odds in an awkward stand-off entering the final week of the transfer window.

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But despite all that, Magpies legend Shearer still believes there's a way for Isak to earn his way back into Newcastle's good books. When asked by Micah Richards whether he saw a realistic route back for Isak at Newcastle, Shearer told his colleague: "Yeah, I think so. Yeah, there is [a way back].

"I think it would have to be done before the transfer window closes, if that's gonna happen. And it's a big 'if. A huge 'if'. Because otherwise, it's just, 'Aw, I'm stuck here, and I have to play, or I have to do this,' y'know?

"He's made his feelings known. But yeah, I think there's always a way back. It's happened before. It was [Luka] Modric, wasn't it? One of a few, actually. Modric was at Tottenham [but] wanted to leave for Chelsea, I think? And was made to sit and play that season, and then he went to Real Madrid. And he was brilliant that season. So there is a way back. But I think it has to be done before the window closes."

Brentford's Yoane Wissa has been touted as a potential replacement for Isak should he leave. However, if Liverpool don't improve their initial offer, there's currently no obvious destination for the Newcastle talisman.

And it could lead to a very uncomfortable reunion at St James' Park should Isak be forced to stay where he is. Manchester United icon Rooney has made his feelings clear on where he would stand if he were another member of the Newcastle squad.

"If I'm a Newcastle player, I don't want Isak back," he said on his new BBC podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show. "I think if players leave football clubs - and that happens all the time - there's a way to go about it.

"You can't go on strike, can't not turn up for training and train with your team-mates. If you want to leave the club or not, you have to be there for your team-mates and be ready if needed."

He went on to say: "For me, I don't think there's any way back for Isak at Newcastle. I think there are cases where it can happen, but from me as a person, I don't think I could accept them back.

"In terms of Isak's team-mates I wouldn't want him back. You can ask to leave a football club - that happens, or the club tell you you're leaving - but you have to be professional."

Much of the football world is in agreement that Isak hasn't been the model professional after backing out of Newcastle's pre-season tour and being banished from training with the squad. And it leaves Eddie Howe with one heck of a repair job should the player be forced to stay put for this season.

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