Slot has, however, hinted at a recall being a matter of weeks away, telling reporters: “Alex has been on the pitch, not with his football boots, but with his running shoes for the first time this week, so that will take a while as well.
“Let’s not put a timescale on it, but it's clear he will be available if things go as planned this season. It will be some time around there, the end of March, start of April, when he is hopefully back with the group, but that's not to say you're ready to play, let alone start a game
“I’m not sure if I'm educating you, but before they go on the pitch, it’s not like they're lying in bed 24 hours a day. They come to the training ground, do their gym work and rehab.
“It’s nice for him to go on the pitch, it’s nice for us to see him here, because there's still enough work to be done but you know as a player, you arrive in the final stages of your rehab. As long as you’re in the gym and not the pitch, that’s not the nicest part.
“The next step is doing work with the ball, which every player likes the most. The next step is to come into the group and then it takes a while before you’re ready to play. But it’s nice that the rehab goes well - that’s a compliment to him and our medical staff.”