Alexander Isak is closing in on a return to action, Arne Slot has confirmed, but the Liverpool striker is facing at least another week out.
The Swede was subject to a heavy tackle from Micky van de Ven as Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-1 in December, coming away with an ankle injury and fractured left fibula.
He underwent surgery shortly thereafter and has been sidelined since, missing 20 matches so far.
Isak was spotted in training this week, though, and Slot has confirmed that while he is getting closer to a comeback, a return is not imminent.
Previewing Liverpool’s Champions League last-16 second-leg against Galatasaray, the Liverpool boss explained: “Alex is not available for tomorrow.
“But the fact that you see him on the pitch tells you he gets closer and closer to joining us again.”
Pressed as to whether he could offer a more specific timeline, he added: “Not really.
“He will not be available for Saturday (away at Brighton) as well. As long as you don’t train with the team yet you are not ready to play.
“As we all know, if you’ve done, for months, only individual sessions it’s also quite a step up to train with the team.
“When you train with the team it’s quite a step up to play at Premier League or Champions League intensity.”
Liverpool have been handed another injury worry ahead of the Galatasaray clash, with Joe Gomez absent from training the day before the match.
Slot confirmed he was still feeling the effects of the weekend’s draw with Tottenham, where he played the full 90 minutes after Ibrahima Konate tweaked his hamstring.
“Joe, we will decide that tomorrow,” he went on. “He wasn’t ready to train today, he had too many issues after our last game.
“He had these issues already after the Galatasaray game, wasn’t planned to play against Tottenham, but unfortunately, Ibou got discomfort in his hamstring.
“So we couldn’t take the risk of playing him, that’s why Joe had to play.
“That has built up so much that now he’s a bit of a doubt tomorrow. He’s going to try tomorrow, to see if he’s available.”
