11 hours ago
38
Liverpool can expect Alexander Isak to be back at full tilt again in the next couple of weeks, with the Reds' record signing still adjusting to life on Merseyside.
Isak missed pre-season with Liverpool because his $169 million (£125 million) move only went through on deadline day. And soccer injury expert Ben Dinnery has outlined what the process will be like for Arne Slot and his medical staff behind the scenes as they aim to get Isak back up to speed in the quickest possible time.
"Him being reintegrated into team training is massive, first and foremost," Dinnery exclusively tells Liverpool.com.
"Obviously, we know he had that spell out of the team at Newcastle and individual work cannot replicate the work of pre-season, one without a little bit of game time, and two without that competitive edge in training.
"Ultimately, you're starting from ground zero in building yourself up. The difficulty is that Isak arrives at Liverpool, who are ultimately going to be fighting on four fronts. There are a lot of games — two or three per week.
"The difficulty is getting the group together and having that level of training where players are able to get up to that level of intensity of Premier League football. That is why that pre-season program is so important — you have a clear block in the calendar."
Isak was on strike in the summer and didn't train with his Newcastle teammates. He was working alone and has only made a handful of appearances so far this season at his new club.
"It will probably have taken a bit longer than it normally would, say if Liverpool had managed to get the business done nice and early," Dinnery, speaking on behalf of Coin Poker, adds.
"What Slot will be relying on is Isak regaining that bit of sharpness during game time.
"The balance is always going to be pushing the player enough to get the developmental aspect, but not to a level where you're pushing him into the red zone and he is at risk of picking up injuries.
"He picked up a couple of soft tissue injuries when he was at Newcastle — adductor, calf issues — but again, there is context. Part of that was just the player being prepared to put his body on the line.
"Newcastle was struggling with only having him and Callum Wilson, and when Wilson wasn't ready, Isak was willing to sacrifice himself for the team.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
"I think, as long as he stays fit and available, he should be fit and ready after the next international break when he goes away with Sweden. He was managed very well by Jan Dahl Tomasson during the last international break.
"It's just about being sensible. But you know you have a quality player on your hands — and it's an area of the squad where Liverpool is fairly well stocked now Hugo Ekitike is back. There is no need to rush him and push him too hard.
"Post the international break and heading into November, you should be seeing Isak approaching somewhere near his best levels on a consistent level again."
Liverpool.com says: Isak has looked pretty sharp considering how much time he has missed. The Swede is still getting up to speed, but there have already been good signs of what he will bring to Slot's attack.
Things haven't clicked fully for him, Florian Wirtz or Mohamed Salah yet this season. Given the position Liverpool finds itself in, that is hugely exciting nonetheless.
English (US) ·