ALEXANDER ISAK is making positive progress as he nears a return from his long-term thigh injury – but the prognosis is not so good when it comes to his Newcastle United team-mate Matt Targett.

Isak was not in the squad for this evening’s goalless draw with Arsenal at the Emirates, with the £63m summer signing from Real Sociedad having been sidelined since September’s home draw with Bournemouth.

He has stepped up his training in the last few days though, with Howe hopeful that a first-team return might not be too far away.

Howe said: “He’s doing well, he’s getting closer – that’s all I can update you with really.”

Targett has not been in the squad for the last three games, and the left-back is facing more than a month on the sidelines.

The absence could force Newcastle’s hand in the transfer market this month, although Jamal Lewis is available as cover for Dan Burn.

Howe said: “I think Matt’s going to be out for a number of weeks. It’s a nasty injury.

“I would say the name of it, but I can’t pronounce it, but it is a nasty injury. It’ll probably be a minimum of a month, possibly more.”