Alexander Isak is facing a race against time to be fit for a huge week in Liverpool’s season after the international break.
The Swede has missed the last three months with a leg break, but was spotted out on the grass at the AXA Training Centre on Tuesday afternoon.
And after Liverpool beat Galatasaray to set up a last-16 meeting with Paris Saint Germain, the question on every supporters’ lips is whether Isak will be ready to play some part in the tie. Thankfully, the early signs are good.
Discuss: Arne Slot could win Liverpool fans back if he keeps showing passion on the touchline
There was much more energy vs Galatasaray, could that change things?
Isak could play against PSG
Arne Slot dropped a hint about Isak’s future role at Liverpool during the Galatasaray thumping, playing Mohamed Salah in a more central position alongside Hugo Ekitike.
The Reds boss will be hopeful of using that same trick in the quarter-final, with claims arriving earlier this month that Isak will be ready after the March international break.
As fans saw upon his arrival at the club in September, Isak may take a little while to get up to speed match-fitness-wise, however, and it is likely that Liverpool rehabilitation staff will urge caution over his game time.
READ MORE: Will the first or second leg be at Anfield for Liverpool’s Champions League clash with PSG?
But it is also true that this is exactly the kind of game which the Reds signed Isak for. He seemingly has a good chance of making the first-leg on April 8th, if only to feature briefly.
By the time the second-leg comes around on April 14th, it seems unlikely that Isak will be ready to start, but an appearance from the bench at Anfield could still be decisive.
Despite scoring four times on Wednesday, Liverpool still lacked a clinical edge against Galatasaray. They cannot afford to be so wasteful when facing PSG. Isak could massively help with that.
Who was your Man of the Match in Liverpool’s rout of Galatasaray? 💪
With Liverpool playing Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-final immediately after the international break, there remains hope that Isak could play some part there to make his comeback.
If he does, involvement against PSG should be expected, if not, he could still travel anyway to make his long-awaited return in Paris.
It has been a hugely difficult debut season at Anfield for the No. 9, but with Liverpool holding up their end of the bargain and getting to the latter stages of big competitions, could there yet be something special written in the stars for him? He has a chance, now let’s see how the next three weeks go.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
