Arne Slot has offered a positive update on Alexander Isak’s recovery from a long-term fibula injury, confirming the Liverpool striker has finally returned to light work on the grass in running shoes this week.
The Liverpool head coach stressed that the club will not rush the 26-year-old, who remains in the final phase of his rehabilitation after a difficult first season at Anfield.
“It will still be a while,” Slot warned before Liverpool’s clash with Nottingham Forest, making it clear that the next key step will be Isak’s return to full training with the group. He expects that to happen around the March international break, with the exact timing dependent on how the forward reacts to increasing intensity and whether there are any setbacks.
“It will be somewhere around the international break, depends on if he gets a setback. End of March, start of April when he’s back with the group. Doesn’t mean he’s ready to start playing straight away,” Slot explained.
The Dutchman praised both Isak and the medical staff for how smoothly the process has gone and believes Liverpool will finally see the striker at his best next season.
“Unfortunately for him and us we haven’t seen the best Alex. We will next season,” he said, as the club looks forward to a full pre-season with the former Newcastle star after injury limited him to just 10 league appearances, 2 goals and 1 assist this campaign.
