Newcastle were surprisingly without Alexander Isak for their Premier League defeat at Liverpool on Wednesday, leaving Alan Shearer panicking momentarily ahead of their Carabao Cup final

Alan Shearer says he was “very worried” after Alexander Isak missed Newcastle’s Premier League fixture against Liverpool through injury, but insists the striker will be fit for the Carabao Cup final clash with the Reds. Eddie Howe’s side got a taste of the colossal task they’ll face at Wembley in just over two weeks’ time when they took on Premier League frontrunners Liverpool on Wednesday. The Magpies were largely outplayed by Arne Slot’s team during their Anfield visit, which resulted in a 2-0 loss. The glaring omission from the Newcastle line-up was talisman Isak, who travelled with the team to Liverpool but pulled out of the matchday squad due to a groin issue. With Isak sidelined, Howe deployed winger Anthony Gordon in a new position just behind Callum Wilson up front, though it was evident that the Magpies were lacking in firepower on the night. But ahead of their rematch with Liverpool at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, March 16, club hero Shearer insists the Swede – who has been Newcastle’s top scorer and most pivotal player this season – will be back as they try to seal their first major domestic trophy since 1955. Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer explained: “As soon as I saw the team and I saw no Isak, I thought ‘oh’. Because if you’re going to beat Liverpool, you need your big hitters which obviously Isak is. So I was obviously very worried when he wasn’t in the team.”

He was then asked by Gary Lineker about the severity of Isak’s injury, to which he replied: “From what I’m hearing he’s going to be fine for the final. I guess that’s what Eddie Howe has to factor in over the next two weekends.

“If there’s even a 2% doubt about someone then I guess he’s just going to leave them out in preparation for the final and I don’t blame him for that.” Eddie Howe confirmed the groin injury in his post-match interview, saying: “It goes without saying how important he [Isak] is to us and I think you could see that today, I thought we missed him. “It was late around midday today. He just didn’t feel right in his groin so we didn’t want to take the risk. We have so many big games to come.” Before the final, Newcastle will first prepare for their FA Cup fifth round tie at home to Brighton on Sunday before a Premier League trip to West Ham on Monday, March 10 where they will look to keep their top-four hopes alive. They will be keen for their star forward to make a swift comeback, having scored an impressive 21 goals in all competitions, along with five assists. Newcastle also missed Sven Botman and Joelinon during the defeat to Liverpool in midweek. Yet the Magpies could receive a boost with both of their returns against Brighton at St. James’ Park on Sunday.