Alexander Isak will return to Liverpool after his injury against Romania proved to be worse than first thought, leaving Sweden without him for rest of their September-October internationals
Sweden's forward #09 Alexander Isak celebrates scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Nations League Group B4 football match between Sweden and Romania in Solna, Sweden on September 25, 2026. (Photo by Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images)
Alexander Isak has left the Sweden squad(Image: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images)
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Sweden boss Graham Potter has provided an update on Alexander Isak, revealing that the Liverpool star has suffered a thigh injury. Isak, 27, withdrew from international duty on the eve of Monday's game against Poland, with Liverpool confirming that he'll return to the club for treatment.
Although the striker was spotted with a bloodied toe after scoring in Friday's 2-1 victory over Romania in the Nations League, Potter has clarified that Isak was actually forced to withdraw because of a thigh problem. The injury will see him miss Sweden's remaining three matches during the international window.
"He's got a small problem with his thigh," Potter explained at his pre-match press conference. "It's not a big one but because of the amount of games we've got in a small space of time, he won't be able to make those.
"Not a big one but it's frustrating for him and obviously for us. It is what it is but we move forward with the players we have.
"It was during the game. Like anything, you sometimes get bumps and bruises in the game, you might think it's a bit of a dead leg or something. But actually as the 24 hours, 48 hours after the game, not quite what you think.
"Unfortunately after getting it checked out, it's a little bit more than what you think during the match. He has to miss the rest of the camp.
"Our medical team has been in contact with the club. Obviously it's our decision in the first place because of his status, in terms of his injury. Once that's the case, we have to inform everybody. That's just normal.
Sweden's head coach Graham Potter reacts during the UEFA Nations League Group B4 football match between Sweden and Romania in Solna, Sweden on September 25, 2026. (Photo by Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images)
Graham Potter admits that no one can replace Alexander Isak(Image: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images)
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"We've got a really big squad that we believe in. Clearly there's not another Alexander Isak, that's obvious.
"In an ideal world, we want all our players available but the reality is we don't have Alex for this game… clearly whoever comes in, we're not going to ask them to be Alex. They just need to be themselves in the best way they can."
Sweden are top of League B Group 4 after beating Romania on home soil. Potter's side welcome Poland to Stockholm in a repeat of March's World Cup play-off final which Sweden won 3-2 thanks to a late goal from Viktor Gyokeres.
As for Isak, his focus will be on ensuring that he's available for Liverpool's clash with Manchester City on October 11. Three days later, the Reds travel to Austria to face LASK in the Champions League as part of a run of nine games in 27 days.