Newcastle defeated the Celtics 0-4 in the just-concluded warm-up match, and the team's forward Isaac did not play or watch the game attracted attention. According to reporter Ben Jacobs, Isaac was not allowed to watch the game just to protect him, not because he was about to transfer.
team coach Eddie Howe said: "It was my decision to exclude Isaac from the roster. I decided to let him go home because of all the rumors surrounding him. What he least wanted was to sit in the stands and watch the game. That was not fair to him. But I am confident that by the end of this transfer window, he will still be a Newcastle player."
reporter Ben Jacobs said that Newcastle sources insisted that Isaac was not allowed to watch the game just to protect him, especially to avoid shooting, rather than because he was about to leave the team.
The reason why Isaac was not sent to play was to gradually get him back to prepare for the pre-season, which Eddie Howe also said before the game.