For weeks, the Newcastle United head coach has told anyone who would listen that nothing will be decided until the final day, that the skirmish for a Champions League place would go down to the wire.

Liverpool could yet try tempt Newcastle with a firm offer for Alexander Isak - and new comments made by Eddie Howe may genuinely concern Magpies supporters.

Arsenal have been handed a setback in their pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, who has scored 23 Premier League goals.

The Sweden international was left of the squad for Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday with a groin issue.

The Newcastle striker, who has scored 27 goals in all competitions this season, withdrew from the squad for the trip to the Emirates Stadium after a flare-up of a groin issue that has previously impacted him during the campaign.

Isak’s wage demands will not be for the faint-hearted. He wants to be paid as much as he could earn elsewhere, which means Newcastle will need to push well above the £200,000-a-week mark. It will need a new wage structure and a ceiling being broken, but when you consider how important he is, the money must be found.

The Gunners ran out 1-0 winners at The Emirates Stadium, with Isak picking up a groin injury in the lead-up to the game. That result means Manchester City still have Champions League football in their own control ahead of the clash with Bournemouth on Wednesday evening and can move above Newcastle with a win.

Newcastle United face a crunch clash against Everton on Sunday - here’s all the latest injury news affecting Eddie Howe ahead of that game.