10/08/2025

theSun on Sunday AUG 10, 2025

SPORTS 14

NEWCASTLE boss Eddie Howe has admit ted want-away striker Alexander Isak is unlikely to feature in the opening game of the Premier League season at Aston Villa. The 25-year-old Sweden international was not involved in yesterday’s 2-2 Sela Cup Isak set to miss opener draw with Espanyol at St. James’ Park, and he will not figure when Howe sends out his side against Atletico Madrid today. remains on Tyneside and that he should sign a new contract to replace his existing deal, which has three years still to run.

… as Newcastle ‘not in position’ to refuse sale

tled a previously united squad, was une quivocal in his denial. He said: “The owners are very much engaged, as much as they always have been. “This has been a challenging period where there’ll be a lot of different opinions on different subjects, but can assure every body connected with Newcastle that the owners are very much behind the project and fighting every day for the club.” – The Independent

Asked if the club could simply dig in their heels and refuse to sell their star frontman, Howe said: “I don’t think it’s that straightforward, other wise we’d have done that a long time ago. I don’t think we’re in a position to do that currently. “I don’t want to go into too much detail because I don’t think that’s right. I think I’ve said enough.” Liverpool boss Arne Slot refused to comment on the Premier League champions’ pursuit of the Swede at

Howe revealed that talks with Isak, the subject of a rejected £110 million (RM638m) bid from Liverpool, are ongoing, but he does not expect any resolution before the season’s opener. The Magpies’ head coach said: “I’d want Alex to be playing today, I’d want him training tomorrow. “We would love the player to be with us – let me make that absolutely clear. There’s no part of me that doesn’t want that outcome. “But I don’t see that changing before Aston Villa, the current situa tion we’re in.” Isak has cut a lonely figure at the Magpies’ training ground since his return to Tyneside having been ordered to work away from the main group following his non appearance for the club’s pre-sea son trip to Singapore and South Korea. His indication that he

09/08/2025 (SAT)

6005/2025

3375 0957 9154

his press conference on Friday morning as the Magpies continue to work on potential sign ings after a frustrating summer to date. RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko’s deci sion to opt for Manchester United rather than Newcastle working on other targets, their need is mounting by the day. The club’s failure to date to land potential signings – they have recruited Anthony Elanga and Aaron represented a fresh blow and while they are

Draw Date: 09/08/25 (Sat)

Draw No: 5952/25 Venue: WISMA GENTING, KL

1294 8469 4822 2886 4537

2872 4372 0062 3816 1257

2309 3494 1574 1344 7676

3847 9392 3621 0063 2893

4029 7720 3258

7042+ 7460 2171+ 7438 8700+ 8934 6157+ 2231 0284+ 3688

4020+ 5607 2707+ 4490 7174 + 7532 2563+ 9192 9588+ 0869

6,200,697.74

wants to explore his options this summer, coupled with Liverpool’s bid – Newcastle value him at closer to £150 mil lion (RM870m) – have created a tense standoff. Isak’s unhappi

3375 0957 3375

3375 3375 0957

9154 9154 0957

9154 9154 0957

424,879.49

RM6,432,807.20

4029+ 7720 4029+ 3258 7720+ 3258

7720+ 4029 3258+ 4029 3258+ 7720

ness has left the club with a major decision to make – cash in now and make a signifi cant profit on a man who cost them £63 mil lion (RM365m) three sum mers ago, or

3375 0957 9154 ROOSTER

RM328,083.00

possession as they made it 26 league games unbeaten at home. But at just 1-0 ahead there was always the risk of an equaliser and Ipswich, relegated from the Premier League, managed one with their lone shot on target of the match. With five minutes of the eight added on having being played, an Ipswich corner to the far post was headed onto the arm of the unfortunate Lyndon Dykes, who did not appear to be handling the ball deliberately But Dykes’ arm was raised and referee Andrew Kitchen awarded a penalty, with Ipswich’s Hirst scoring from the spot. The goal sparked a brief fracas between the teams, with objects being thrown onto the St Andrew’s pitch by frustrated Birmingham fans. “(Scoring the penalty) is what I’m paid to do,” said Hirst. “It is my bread and butter. “The centre-half said it was a rubbish penalty in different terms but it went in the back of the net. That is what matters at the end of the day.” – AFP Ramsdale, who saved a penalty against the Spanish side on his debut, but have missed out on Hugo Ekitike, Sesko, James Trafford and Joao Pedro – has prompted sugges tions that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which owns an 85% stake, is not as engaged as it once was. However Howe, who admit ted the Isak situation has unset

RM440,289.20

104 029 + DOG

try to per suade him that his f u t u r e

RM110,000.00

6 5 9 9 2 5 9 9 2 9 9 2 9 2

007 720+ DOG

Alexander Isak. – AFPPIC

RM320,833.30

0 1 2 9 9 1 1 7 0 9

573 258 + HORSE

Late penalty salvages point for Ipswich

957 042 117 460 584 020 125 607 042 171 017 438 702 707 244 490 578 700 928 934 637 174 557 532 896 157 712 231 402 563 569 192 640 284 883 688 029 588 200 869

8 2 1 8 2 7 2 1 8 2 7 1 8 2 7 8 2 7

IPSWICH needed a stoppage-time penalty to rescue a point as they began their quest for an immediate return to the Premier League with a 1-1 draw away to Birmingham yesterday. Birmingham, back in English football’s second-tier after being crowned champions of League One last season, took the lead in the opening match of the 2025/26 Championship campaign in the 53rd minute. Jay Stansfield broke the deadlock when he followed up after Japan’s Kyogo Furuhashi, previously a fans favourite at Scottish champions Celtic, hit the post. But George Hirst’s controversial penalty deep into stoppage time denied Birmingham, whose minority owner is seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, victory. “I was really pleased with how we played,“ Birmingham manager Chris Davies told Sky Sports . “We’re very disappointed with the penalty and to concede so late is always a sore one. It’s really, really harsh.” Birmingham dominated territory and

8 2 1 8 2 8 2 1 8 8 2 1 8 2

2 7

029 720 258

2 8 9 23 27 37

71,091,359.65

RM975,122.30 029 + 720 + 258 720 + 258 + 029 029 + 258 + 720 258 + 029 + 720 720 + 029 + 258 258 + 720 + 029

13 14 20 33 39 44

4,137,695.86

22

4 24 32 43 45 48

Follow us on FB (@DaMaCai88) for latest news & promotions.

8,036,517.80 199,922.31