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Liverpool has been warned it could face more problems with Alexander Isak’s fitness, just as the striker is returning from his first injury problem with the club.
Isak’s start to life at Anfield hasn’t gone to plan so far, with the striker having scored just one goal in eight appearances, while he has missed the Reds’ last five games after picking up a groin injury during the Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt last month.
The 26-year-old returned to action at the weekend for Sweden, and will be eyeing up a place back in Arne Slot’s side when Liverpool resumes its Premier League campaign against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Isak, though, has struggled for fitness following his deadline day move from Newcastle. He had effectively gone on strike with the Magpies in order to force through the transfer, meaning he missed out on a proper pre-season.
And former Arsenal and Sweden star Stefan Schwarz believes there could be further problems for Isak at Liverpool, pointing to fitness concerns at his previous clubs.
“Alexander Isak is a fantastic player. The quality, the finishing, the movements, the intelligence on the pitch. He creates space for himself and others. The link-up play,” Schwarz told Hajper.
“But I believe there's one thing that worries me a little bit, is his fitness. Every club that he's been to or played for, he hasn't been able to continue week in and week out, it isn’t a new problem.
“That's probably the challenge Liverpool has - to get the best out of Isak. Because he's a tremendous player and I believe we know when he's playing he can do magical things.
“He has super finishing and it's very difficult for the opponents to know where he is. He's so clever, intelligent.
“But for me it's the fitness level. He has to play week in and week out to get that continuity to even improve and to get on a higher level.”
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Having returned to action at the weekend, Isak was named on the bench for Sweden again in its final World Cup qualifier against Slovenia, despite indicating he was ready to start.
"It's great to be able to play," Isak said, via Expressen. "I've been away for a few weeks. It's been frustrating, of course. It's never fun to be injured.
"It's probably most frustrating for the player himself, when you feel like you can't be there and have an impact. So it's been frustrating. But I'm trying to be positive. Now I'm healthy.
"I think I should be able to be available for the start [on Tuesday]. Then we'll see what all the other parties think. But it feels good. I feel ready."
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