Image Credits: Imago Images
Alexander Isak took step forward in his recovery from the serious leg injury that has sidelined him since December, but questions remain over whether he will be ready in time to spearhead Sweden’s World Cup play-off charge in March.
The Liverpool striker fractured his fibula and damaged his ankle in a challenge against Tottenham shortly before Christmas, undergoing surgery and beginning a lengthy rehabilitation at the AXA Training Centre. Initial expectations suggested a lay-off of “a couple of months”, effectively ruling him out of the festive period and leaving both club and country anxiously watching his progress.
Head coach Arne Slot has now confirmed that Isak has moved into a more advanced phase of his rehab, recently returning to outdoor work and beginning to run again as he builds strength in the injured leg. The next stage will see the 26-year-old reintroduce ball work before gradually being reintegrated into full team training, with Liverpool tentatively targeting late March or early April for a competitive return if there are no setbacks.
Slot has praised both the player and the club’s medical staff for the way they have managed the process.
For Sweden, the update is a mixed blessing ahead of their crucial World Cup qualifying play-offs. The Scandinavian side are set for a March semi-final tie – likely against Ukraine – and had always hoped Isak might be an option after he missed the closing qualifiers due to a combination of fitness management and suspension risk.
However, with the forward only just stepping up his workload and still weeks away from full-contact training, there is no guarantee he will be match-ready when national-team boss Graham Potter names his squad.
Speaking to Sportsbladet over the weekend, Potter responded to questions over the fitness of Alexander Isak and Lucas Bergvall – to which he did not give a super positive response:
“Right now we’re just keeping our fingers crossed and hopefully we can get some of those guys back. But if not, we have to find a solution with the guys who are available,” Potter said.
Last week, Potter also said on the Liverpool N0.9:
“I hope they (Isak and Dejan Kulusevski) can play, but these are big injuries…It’s tough to come back from injuries like that by March, but there’s a chance,” Potter explained.
“Yes, I have spoken to both of them. They are on their way back and are optimistic. They are working very hard at home in the club team in an attempt to play with us in March.”
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