EDDIE HOWE admits there is “no guarantee” that either Alexander Isak or Callum Wilson will be available when Newcastle United return to action after the international break.

Both strikers have been sidelined for Newcastle’s last two league matches, with Isak struggling with a broken toe and Wilson still recovering from a combination of back and hamstring issues.

In the duo’s absence, Anthony Gordon has been forced to play as a ‘number nine’, and while the winger has given his all in the games against Manchester City and Everton, the Magpies have lacked the focal point that a more natural centre-forward would ordinarily provide.

With Isak having withdrawn from international duty with Sweden, it is hoped that both he and Wilson will be able to return to training at Newcastle’s Darsley Park base in the next couple of weeks.

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However, Howe concedes he cannot give any guarantees they will be available for selection for the Magpies’ next game against Brighton on October 19.

“You’re always going to miss your strikers if they’re not fit,” said Howe. “If you take any focal point number nine out of a team, you’re going to miss them.

“I think the two that we’ve been missing are top players. They’re both different, of course, but I think you could see there were elements of our game (against Everton) that were just slightly missing. The spark was missing, and I think in part that’s down to them.

“Anthony’s done incredibly well, and the group’s done incredibly well to play on without them. But we’ll be delighted to get them back if we can.

“There’s no guarantee though. We hope the next two weeks will allow us to see both of them in training, but we’ll see. Hopefully, they’ll be fit for Brighton.”

Kieran Trippier will be assessed by Newcastle’s medical staff in the next couple of days after he was unable to complete yesterday’s goalless draw on Merseyside.

The full-back pulled up in the second half and appeared to be holding his hamstring before he limped off the field to be replaced by Tino Livramento in the 71st minute.

“I don’t know how things are with Kieran,” said Howe. “He said he felt something, but you’re going on gestures and actions. He went down and said he felt his hamstring, but I haven’t spoken to him about it afterwards.”