Arne Slot has said it is “definitely too fast” to expect Alexander Isak to feature in Liverpool’s starting lineup following his return to team training but admitted it is a “very good thing” to have him as an option again.
Isak trained with Slot’s squad on Thursday for the first time since breaking both his leg and his ankle in the 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in December. The injury compounded what has been a difficult first season at Anfield for the striker, who joined the club in a £125 million ($164m) move from Newcastle United last summer.
While Isak is unlikely to feature prominently for Liverpool in Saturday’s FA Cup quarterfinal clash with Manchester City, his availability could give the Reds a big boost in the final stages of the season.
“It will definitely be too fast to expect him in the starting lineup,” Slot said.
“He has trained with us yesterday for the first time and today will be the second time after exactly 101 days. It will take a bit of time to give him a lot of minutes but we will make sure we do the right thing in terms of building him up. It is a very good thing to have him on the training ground again. It would be an even better thing to have him in games, that’s for sure.”
Asked whether Isak could be involved from the bench against City, Slot said: “It is a difficult one because we don’t play a normal game. What I mean is it could go to extra-time so that makes it even more complicated if we bring him in and we think he can only play 10 minutes and bring him on and then it goes to extra time.
“Of course we can take him off again if we have enough players available. Maybe a few minutes but let’s wait and see how he is today, how he feels about it himself. It’s clear after two training sessions in 100 days, it would not make any sense to start him tomorrow.
“It wasn’t only that he missed preseason, he missed also the end of Newcastle’s season and he didn’t go with the national team so he missed much more than only preseason. What’s realistic? I think rehab did a great job. If I look at him now compared to where he was before he got injured I see a player that is much stronger, physically in a much better place but going from 100 days off to the intensity of the Premier League in the end phase of the season and the end phase of the Champions League where usually the opposition you face is even harder, what’s realistic to expect? That’s difficult.
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“I am really happy that I have at least a No. 9 again available behind Hugo [Ekitike] or together with Hugo so that is already a positive thing and what to expect, I think I’ve said many times that next season when he’s had a preseason, we can expect more from him than now but even the way he is now is already a big step forward for us compared to what he had when he arrived.”
Slot also confirmed goalkeeper Alisson Becker will miss the trip to the Etihad as well as next week’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, while Jeremie Frimpong and Mohamed Salah — who announced last week that this will be his last season at Liverpool — should both be available to feature against Pep Guardiola’s side.
Of Salah, Slot said: “He trained with us yesterday and will train today and is available for the game tomorrow. What has happened since his announcement is what he completely deserved. His teammates when asked about his legacy said what needed to be said.
“He has been unbelievable for this club for so many years. Scoring so many goals, winning so many trophies. I saw a beautiful photo of him in front of all the trophies he’s won individually and as a team. I can only hope that he can add two extra trophies to it before the end of this season.”
