Alexander Isak looks sure to miss his initial target of being back fit for Liverpool by the end of March.
After breaking his leg against Tottenham in December, Isak was ruled out for around three months, meaning his return should be just a matter of days away.
However, after Arne Slot gave a short and somewhat terse response to a question about the availability of his No. 9 on Friday, it looks likely that Isak‘s recovery will now run into April.
Liverpool’s forwards ALL deserve to be dropped against Spurs 😶
Which three would you go with against a side shipping so many goals?
“He’s with the rehab team, still not with the team yet,” Slot said, without further comment. Unfortunately, with an international break also thrown into the mix, Liverpool fans may have to prepare for another month or so without their most deadly finisher.
Isak running out of time for return
Isak’s arrival at Liverpool showcased that he is the kind of footballer who needs a little while to get up to speed following a period of inactivity.
Given the precarious nature of his fitness during the early part of his Liverpool career, the performance staff at Anfield will likely err on the side of caution when he returns this time.
Put simply, they will not want to rush Isak back. As he is still not training with the first-team, that means it could be any number of weeks before he eventually re-joins the group, and then even longer until he is back out on the pitch.
READ MORE: Wayne Rooney suggests what may see Arne Slot bench Hugo Ekitike at Liverpool
Liverpool have badly missed Isak since his injury, with Slot’s forward line desperately short of options and goal-scoring threat.
Even though his £125m move from Newcastle has been a disaster so far, having Isak back for the run-in could be vital to Liverpool challenging for both the Champions League and FA Cup.
The 26-year-old will certainly miss Wednesday’s last-16 second-leg against Galatasaray, and if the Reds fail to overturn the 1-0 loss they recorded in Istanbul, Isak will not be able to help them in Europe. But with quarter-finals of both competitions set to come in April, Liverpool fans should be sweating on the possibility of their record signing missing all of the action.
Liverpool have to get Isak fit for April push
It is understandable that Liverpool want to be cautious with Isak. Rushing him back could lead to another injury, which would be hugely, damagingly frustrating.
However, the problem which has seen him miss almost three months of action was not muscle-related. As a result, short of having match fitness, he should not need a huge amount of building up prior to coming back.
March would have been great, but there is perhaps a feeling at Liverpool that Isak will be better off taking his time slightly and being ready for key matches in April.
Who is your dream Liverpool manager in 2026/27?
Jurgen Klopp or Xabi Alonso? 🤤
As announced on Friday, the Reds will play Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday, April 4th, with the first of the two Champions League legs – likely against PSG if Liverpool progress – coming in the following midweek. A return at the Etihad Stadium should now be the target for Isak.
Unfortunately, given where Slot has placed his recovery on Friday, it feels unlikely that that will be the case.
Sweden manager Graham Potter previously claimed that Isak could be ready for the international break in two weeks’ time, but Slot’s latest update has made that feel somewhat unlikely as well.
If he misses that, Isak could return for the City clash, but again, a sinking feeling is growing that it could be more like the middle of April or even later before we see the former Newcastle man again. Let’s hope there is something more positive to come in the weeks ahead, but for now we would not bank on Isak playing again any time soon.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
