Alexander Isak injury latest as Arne Slot provides update on Liverpool striker

Liverpool striker Alexander Isak has been absent since suffering a fractured leg in December, but manager Arne Slot has provided an update on his return, while cautioning Sweden over international duty

Alexander Isak is still recovering from injury(Image: Getty Images)

To say that this wasn't what Alexander Isak had in mind when he completed his move to Liverpool would be the season's biggest understatement.

In a campaign frequently marred by misfortune at Anfield, few have faced more challenging circumstances than the most expensive soccer player in British history. The Swedish striker made a name for himself as one of the top forwards in English soccer during his stint at Newcastle, scoring 54 goals over three seasons, with 44 of those coming in the last two.

But he's been out of action since suffering a broken leg against Tottenham in December. Isak isn't expected to return for the Reds until April and, with speculation growing over a potential call-up for international duty this month, Arne Slot, speaking on Friday, warned that expectations must be tempered regarding the striker's immediate return to form.

"If you ask me now, I would say I don't expect [Isak to go on duty with Sweden]," Slot said. "But we are still one and a half weeks off, there is always co-operation between club and country, but I don't expect him to play for us before that.

"Again, I have to mess up the party, again. Let's say [he comes back] at the beginning of April, he has been out for three and a half months and not trained with the team for three and a half months. The last time he did that, it took him a while to get up to speed.

"I am really, really looking forward to having him back, but don't get the expectations again so high that the minute he is on the pitch, he is at the level of what we spent that money on."

Alexander Isak has been sidelined since December(Image: Getty Images)

If the loss of such a gifted striker wasn't difficult enough for a manager under scrutiny like Slot, it has led to an excessive reliance on Hugo Ekitike, the only established, senior center-forward available.

Liverpool has been working to build the Frenchman's fitness and his ability to sustain top-level performance across 90 minutes in a division as relentless as the Premier League, but the lack of a genuine alternative has undoubtedly hindered results.

Slot added: "I don't think it's been helpful for the team that many times we have felt we are there, another player got injured, another player got injured. We constantly felt we had to do it with 12-13 players.

"It is always a boost for a team to have everyone available. Look at the recent PSG game (against Chelsea), when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia came in 30 or so minutes from the end and scored twice.

"I think Pep Guardiola said as well, how important it is to have your players available because this is such a hard league, we don't have a winter break, and there are so many games.

"I don't think there are many clubs in the history of this league who have had a lot of injuries and performed as expected.

"That is harder in this league than any other league in the world, as you have so many games at a high level.

"All the examples are there, Manchester City last season."