ALEXANDER ISAK is a major doubt for Newcastle United’s weekend game at Fulham – and to compound the club’s striker issues, Callum Wilson has now been ruled out until the next international break.

Isak was forced off at the half-time interval of last weekend’s 2-1 win at Wolves after suffering a pair of injury issues. The Swede’s eye was damaged by a clearance from Craig Dawson, while he also picked up a foot problem towards the end of the first half at Molineux.

Both problems have been closely monitored this week, with Eddie Howe keen to delay making a final decision on Isak’s participation at Craven Cottage until as late as possible before the game.

“We’ll find out more with Alex today,” said Howe. “It was a strange one with his eye – the ball just grazed his eye and we felt, at that time, that was the main reason for him coming off the pitch. But then he had a knock to his foot as well, so he’s got a combination of the two.

“Both were picked up towards the end of the half at Wolves, and we’ll make a decision when we see how things are later today.”

Isak’s potential absence would not be as much of an issue if Wilson was available, but the schedule for the striker’s return from a combination of hamstring and back issues has had to be redrawn.

It was initially hoped that Wilson would have been available by mid-September, but after being sent for a series of new scans, Newcastle’s medical staff have pushed a possible return date back to the next international break in mid-October.

Wilson has not suffered a new setback, but his injury problems have not healed as quickly as was initially hoped and there is a strong desire to avoid a major recurrence that could wreck the 32-year-old’s season.

“Callum won’t make the game,” said Howe. “With Callum, we’re looking at a situation where we’re hoping to have him back in full training by the next international break, ready for the games following.

“Any injury to the hamstring is potentially complex. The back injury is there, but it was connected (to the hamstring issues). There’s been no re-injury, it’s just been a case of readjusting the timescales depending on how he felt. We’ve had to listen to his body when he’s delivered the work, and he’s also been rescanned.

“It’s maybe not healed as quickly as we’d hoped, so there’s been a slight adjustment, but hopefully we’ll have him back fully fit and firing for the next group of games. That will be really important because we have missed him. We’ve really missed his energy and what he brings to the squad, and we’ve missed the competition that he brings.”

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If Isak is ruled out of tomorrow’s game, Anthony Gordon is likely to play as the central striker, having filled the role during the second half of the win over Wolves.

Summer signing William Osula is another option, but while Howe has been happy with the 21-year-old’s development since he left Sheffield United, he is unlikely to be thrust into the starting side against Fulham. Osula is more likely to be involved in some capacity when Newcastle return to London to face AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup next Tuesday.

“He’s (Osula) someone that we really do like,” said Howe. “There’s always a process. It’s a big move for him, but he’s adapted well to that. He’s very mature, comes in with a big smile on his face every day and is very committed to his work.

“We’ve begun the process of developing his game, and just smoothing out some areas we just feel need some development, and of course just getting him to understand what we do and how we play. But I’ve got really high hopes for him.”