Newcastle United's transfer listed Morocco international Achraf Lazaar has offered to return to the club and solve Steve Bruce's left-back problem.
But the former Palermo man has been told to remain training on his own in Sardinia for now.
Lazaar is believed to be baffled by United's insistence that he stays away while still picking up around £35,000 per week.
The left-footed player spent last season in Serie B with Coszena where he made a handful of appearances and suffered more injury woe.
However, with his loan deal about to expire with the Italian second flight side, Lazaar thought he would be reporting back to Newcastle, or at least the club's Academy to train with the Under-23s.
Instead, the club and the player's agent will continue to look for a new left-back and Lazaar must train alone.
Lazaar hoped that Bruce would give him a chance last season after signing the player on loan during his time at Sheffield Wednesday but instead, after taking a look at him in pre-season, decided to loan him out to Serie B.
Lazaar's big wage packet is set to drain the club until June 30, 2021.
The 28-year-old has kept his counsel over the summer and not spoken publicly about his future but for now he continues to pound the pavements around Costa Smeralda.
Lazaar posted Instagram videos and pictures of himself training in Sardinia with a message reading: "This is the real secret of life, to be fully engaged with what is being done here and now.
"And instead of calling it work, realise it's a passion."
