Newcastle United are familiar with Alexander Isak's recurring issue with the striker now facing assessment on injury
Lee Ryder follows Newcastle United home and away as our Chief Newcastle United Writer. Lee has reported on the Magpies from China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Russia, Ukraine, and across Europe. Covered England at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.
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Alexander Isak is being dogged by a similar injury he suffered at Newcastle United earlier this year - one that threatened to rule him out of the Carabao Cup final at one stage.
The £130million man has struggled to make an impact at Liverpool, netting just one goal and looking like a different player to the one who hit top form on Tyneside. But a groin problem for Isak isn't new and one that Newcastle medics were forced to manage across two of his three seasons at St James' Park.
Isak missed the defeat at Liverpool last spring and faced a race against time to get fit for the final against the Reds at Wembley. But the problem did not go away much to the concern of Howe and his medical team.
Howe said in May: "I think he has had a couple of groin issues, either side, this was one he had earlier in the season.
"I don’t think it is something that needs mending. It certainly probably needs looking at as to why he is getting those sort of groin complaints.
"But it is definitely not a surgery issue, it is probably more of a what is he doing to strengthen that area issue - which we will, of course, look at and focus on."
Isak missed 13 matches with the groin injury over two seasons but returned for pre-season hoping that the issue was behind him. However, after then refusing to play or train with the first-team in pursuit of his move to Liverpool, Isak's fitness suffered and he has not managed to get up and running to his best levels with the Reds.
Newcastle United insiders, of course, warned that there could be issues. Having dealt with the player for three years, building his strength up and making him robust enough to cope with the rigours of the Premier League and European football, they were more aware than most about the danger signs.
Isak's fitness has been fragile in the past. His manager Arne Slot had spoken about how the player should be back up to top fitness now after games for Sweden but he failed to emerge for the second half in Liverpool's 5-1 win over Frankfurt on Wednesday night.
The Reds are hoping it isn't a serious problem. Slot, speaking after Isak went off, said: "Alex got a few but unfortunately did not score and had to go off at half-time as he felt his groin a little bit which is a pity.
"I hope it’s not too serious. If he were to be out for a few weeks, that would set him back. It is such a difficult balance with a player who missed three months."
In further comments in his Press conference today, Slot insisted that it was only a minor injury for the player, saying: "Alex is not too bad. Question mark for the weekend and let's see where he is."
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However, the fact Isak's groin problem has flared up again should set some alarm bells ringing. Newcastle decided earlier this year that it didn't require surgery to fix the ongoing problem. Liverpool will be taking a close look themselves over the next few weeks.