Alexander Isak injury update offers hint at likely Liverpool return date

Alexander Isak has been sidelined since December with a broken leg and is expected to miss Sweden's World Cup play-off against Ukraine at the end of March

Alexander Isak hasn't played for Liverpool since December(Image: Getty Images)

Alexander Isak is not expected to be included in Sweden's squad for its World Cup play-off against Ukraine, which could indicate where he is at with his recovery from a broken leg.

Isak has not played for Liverpool since December, when he sustained the injury as a result of a heavy challenge by Micky van de Ven in a win away to Tottenham. Isak underwent surgery on the injury, and two weeks ago, Arne Slot confirmed that the former Newcastle striker had begun running at the AXA Training Center.

Slot, however, said that Isak's return to action for Liverpool was still some way away, and a report by Swedish outlet VM corroborates the Liverpool boss's comments.

Sweden boss Graham Potter will name his squad for the playoff on March 18, and the report says that Isak is not expected to be in it.

The one-legged playoff semifinal will take place on March 26 in Valencia, with a spot in the playoff final against either Poland or Albania on March 31 at stake.

Speaking about Isak's road to recovery in February, Slot said: “It will be around that period of time – end of March, start of April – where he is hopefully back with the group.

Arne Slot expects Isak to return in April(Image: Getty Images)

“When you are back with the group, that is not to say you are ready to play, let alone start a game of football, because again, he’s been out for months, and the last time he was out for months, we could all see it took him a while before he was the player who we signed from Newcastle.

“Alex has been on the pitch, not with his football boots but with his running shoes for the first time this week, so that will take a while as well.

"The next step is doing work with the ball, which every player likes most.

"Then the next step is to come into the group. But it’s nice that rehab goes well; that’s a compliment to him and our medical staff.”

Meanwhile, Slot confirmed that Florian Wirtz could return for Liverpool in Friday's FA Cup fifth-round meeting with Wolves.

Wirtz has not featured in any of Liverpool's last three games, after pulling up with a back injury during the warm-up ahead of Liverpool's away game against Nottingham Forest last month.

"He trained half and half yesterday. He made the next step in his rehab," Slot said during a press conference on Thursday.

"Let's see where he is today, and he could be available tomorrow for a few minutes tomorrow in the best scenario."