Chorus line out of Toon without star performer

IT'S hard to have a proper dress-rehearsal when your star performer is missing.

- BY DAVID ANDERSON

And so it was for Newcastle last night as they had to warm up for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool next month without key man Alexander Isak.

Isak remained in the North East with a groin injury and Eddie Howe had to face Liverpool without his talismanic top scorer (above) just two-and-a-half weeks before the sides meet at Wembley on March 16.

It's hard to overstate Isak's importance to Newcastle. Not only has the Sweden striker bagged 19 Premier League goals this season, he is also the man for the big occasion, netting in his two visits to Anfield with the Toon.