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Newly appointed Sweden manager Graham Potter was reluctant to delve into the fitness concerns of Alexander Isak during a press conference on Wednesday.
The former Brighton boss is preparing for his first match in charge this Saturday, as the underperforming Swedes face Switzerland at Stade de Geneve. In the lead-up to this crucial World Cup qualifier, Potter was questioned about the condition of Liverpool's record-breaking signing. "Alexander is here," confirmed Potter. "I've spoken briefly with him. He's feeling well, has no issues."
While it wasn't a resounding endorsement of his star player, right now, Isak could do without any additional attention or hype. Almost two-and-a-half months into his Merseyside tenure, the former Newcastle star finds himself in the same position he was in at the beginning of September.
Isak has clocked up just 253 Premier League minutes out of the 720 played by Liverpool since his arrival in early September, excluding stoppage time. His most recent appearance for his new club was a 45-minute stint against Eintracht Frankfurt on October 22, where he sustained a groin injury.
Consequently, the 26-year-old has largely been a spectator in recent weeks, unable to prevent a losing streak that now stands at seven defeats in the last 10 matches across all competitions. This run dates back to September when Liverpool lost at Crystal Palace.
Had Liverpool been competing in Sunday's match against Manchester City, Arne Slot could have turned to the most expensive player in British soccer history from the substitutes' bench.
Following his return to training last week, Isak was included in the matchday squad at the Etihad, but as the game slipped beyond the Reds' grasp and City dominated proceedings, it seemed an unnecessary gamble, especially after the impressive Jeremy Doku had netted the third goal just past the hour mark.
Slot had stated after the October international break that Isak was now ready to face higher expectations, having been granted a settling-in period following a preseason disrupted by the contentious nature of his transfer to Liverpool throughout July and August.
Yet since the Reds resumed fixtures in mid-October, the striker has featured in only one Premier League outing - the 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United nearly a month ago. Despite his efforts, attempts to gain consistency and rhythm have thus far proved unsuccessful.
Slot was, in fact, compelled to revise that earlier judgement when addressing the media ahead of the City defeat, stating: "I know that I said three weeks ago that his pre-season has ended, so now it's time for us to see where he is. But I have to come back to those words.
"Because if you are three weeks only with the rehab, that doesn't bring you back to the levels he was three weeks ago. Although our rehab team is doing an incredible job. But you cannot compare rehab with games of football or training sessions with the team. As much as we try to replicate it, that's simply not possible. So, again I have to say, give him some time."
This is why Isak's arrival on the international stage with Sweden once again leaves Liverpool anxiously hoping its club-record signing will be carefully managed. The Reds maintained regular dialogue with the backroom staff of previous manager Jon Dahl Tomasson throughout the September and October international breaks, particularly with performance manager Ben Rosen.
Rosen has stayed on as part of Potter's coaching setup, so it seems unlikely that communication regarding Isak and Liverpool has ceased. However, with Sweden desperate for positive results as the country's World Cup qualification hangs in the balance, the pressure on a new manager to deploy its star player over the coming days must be considerable as he seeks a strong start.
Potter's intentions will become apparent later this week when he addresses Saturday's fixture in Geneva, but the Reds will be eager to ensure their player receives careful treatment.
Should Isak participate in both matches against Switzerland and Slovenia, he will have featured in more World Cup qualifiers than Premier League fixtures by the time he returns to Merseyside towards the end of next week, ahead of Nottingham Forest's visit. This provides a brief glimpse into the early days, even though Slot could rightly argue that he's been signed for six years, not six weeks.
Isak's Liverpool career may seem like Groundhog Day in its initial weeks: requiring more game time, being away on international duty, and increasing focus on his fitness levels.
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