Arne Slot is expecting Alexander Isak to be available for a Liverpool return in April. The striker fractured his left leg and sustained an ankle injury against Tottenham in December and required surgery but is back in light training.
Isak started running this week as part of his rehabilitation and if he continues on the same path, he will join team training at the end of March. “It will be around that period of time – end of March, start of April – where he is hopefully back with the group,” the head coach said.
“When you are back with the group that is not to say you are ready to play, let alone start a game of football because again he’s been out for months and the last time he was out for months we could all see it took him a while before he was the player who we signed from Newcastle.”
Isak has made 16 appearances, scoring three goals, since joining from Newcastle for £125m in the summer. The Swede arrived without a pre-season, then sustained a groin injury in October, which kept him out for four matches.
“Alex has been on the pitch, not with his football boots but with his running shoes for the first time this week, so that will take a while as well,” said Slot, whose team play at Nottingham Forest on Sunday. “The next step is doing work with the ball, which every player likes most. Then the next step is to come into the group … But it’s nice that rehab goes well; that’s a compliment to him and our medical staff.”
