Liverpool will be hopeful Alexander Isak can follow in the footsteps of one former player as he overcomes his serious injury
Alexander Isak of Liverpool
Alexander Isak of Liverpool(Image: Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
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A big-money Liverpool striker summer signing, their debut season halted by a broken leg, now facing a race against time to regain fitness and contribute during the closing weeks with Champions League hopes and a top-four finish very much in the balance.
For Reds supporters of a certain vintage, they've heard it all before.
After all, the tortuous journey of Alexander Isak this campaign has already been travelled by Djibril Cisse who, in the summer of 2004, made a club record £14.5million move from French side Auxerre.
Having then been sidelined for the best part of six months after breaking his leg, Cisse returned with a succession of substitute outings and a solitary start before coming off the bench to score in the penalty shoot-out that sealed a remarkable Champions League final triumph against AC Milan in Istanbul and, having missed out on a top-four place, maintained Liverpool's place among Europe's elite.
While Isak's injury absence is likely to be just over half that of Cisse, there's little doubt the Sweden international will be back in the situation he has found himself for much of the campaign in playing catch-up regards fitness and sharpness after missing out on a proper pre-season at Newcastle United due to his determination to push through an eventual £125m move to Anfield.
As Slot has consistently maintained, there was a belief among the Liverpool coaching staff that Isak, having overcome a subsequent groin problem, was finally starting to rediscover his old self when he suffered his latest injury while scoring the opener as a substitute in the 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur the weekend before Christmas.
Speaking on Thursday, the Liverpool boss believes Isak is capable of reproducing that form on his return to action, which is most likely to come after next month's international break.
The striker will therefore hope there is still much to play for, with the Reds aiming to have secured quarter-final berths in both the Champions League and FA Cup in time for his return.
But while Slot believes Isak can pick up where he left off, the reality is there will be no great rush to push him back into the starting line-up, not least due to the success of Hugo Ekitike leading the line in his absence.
Rotation with the overworked Ekitike will become an option once Isak gets up to speed. But after such a stop-start term with just three goals in 16 appearances, the 26-year-old will be grateful for every minute he has on the pitch between now and the end of the campaign.
And there could yet come a defining moment for Isak as reward for persevering throughout a difficult season. Just ask Cisse.