Liverpool's record signing Alexander Isak is poised to make his long-awaited return to the pitch by the end of next month, as manager Arne Slot delivered an encouraging update on the striker's recovery from a serious injury. The Swedish international, who joined the Reds from Newcastle United last summer for £125 million, has been sidelined for two months after undergoing surgery for a fibula and ankle fracture sustained during Liverpool's 2-1 victory over Tottenham on December 20.
Rehabilitation Progress and Timeline
Slot confirmed that Isak has reached a significant milestone in his rehabilitation, taking to the training pitch in running shoes for the first time this week. While cautious about setting exact dates, the Liverpool boss indicated that the 26-year-old forward should be available for selection around the end of March or beginning of April, provided there are no unexpected setbacks in his recovery process.
"Alex has been on the pitch, not with his football boots, but with his running shoes for the first time this week," Slot revealed. "Let's not put a timescale on it, but it's clear he will be available if things go as planned this season. It will be some time around there, the end of March, start of April, when he is hopefully back with the group."
Gradual Return to Full Fitness
The Liverpool manager emphasized that returning to training with the squad represents just one step in Isak's journey back to match fitness. Slot explained that players in rehabilitation continue their work at the training ground even when not on the pitch, progressing through gym sessions and specialized recovery programs before gradually reintroducing ball work and team training.
"It's nice for him to go on the pitch, it's nice for us to see him here, because there's still enough work to be done," Slot noted. "The next step is doing work with the ball, which every player likes the most. The next step is to come into the group and then it takes a while before you're ready to play. But it's nice that the rehab goes well - that's a complement to him and our medical staff."
Frustrating Debut Season
Isak's first campaign at Anfield has been severely disrupted by injuries and a lack of proper preseason preparation. The striker refused to play for Newcastle United last summer in an attempt to force through his move to Liverpool, missing their preseason tour and consequently beginning the season without adequate match fitness. This challenging start has limited him to just 16 appearances across all competitions, with only three goals scored - just two of which came in Premier League matches.
Despite Sweden's international fixture against Ukraine scheduled for March 26, Liverpool are expected to exercise caution with their record signing, making it unlikely that Isak will feature in that match as the club prioritizes his long-term fitness over immediate international commitments.
Looking Ahead to Next Season
Slot expressed confidence that Isak will demonstrate his true capabilities following a complete preseason with Liverpool this summer, suggesting that supporters have yet to see the best version of the Swedish striker. The manager acknowledged the difficulties of integrating a player who has missed substantial training time and emphasized the need for patience as Isak works toward full match sharpness.
"That's going to be a different period to know, but we also expect a different player from the end of the season to the one we had in the first part," Slot stated. "If a player has had four to five months of only individual training, we cannot expect that he is up to speed straight away, with the level at which we are playing. So unfortunately for him and us, we haven't used the best Alex yet, but this club and our fans will hopefully see the best Alex this season but, for sure, in the upcoming years."
Slot Addresses Racism in Football
In a separate development, the Liverpool manager also commented on the alleged racist abuse directed toward Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr during their Champions League match against Benfica. Slot called for continued efforts across the football community to eliminate discrimination from the sport, emphasizing that there can never be too much done in this crucial area.
"I think in general you can never do enough," Slot asserted. "You can always do more - and you should do more - to make sure this never happens again. We have - as a football world - do more than society does. The football world reacted as you expected. We can do enough but we can never do too much."
