Arne Slot firmly believes Alexander Isak will return from his ailment as an improved footballer for Liverpool.
The Swedish international has faced a challenging debut campaign on Merseyside following his record-breaking £120 million transfer from Newcastle last summer.
Isak has been out of action since fracturing a leg while scoring at Tottenham shortly before the festive period, but Slot disclosed he has commenced running once more, as he aims to rejoin the team prior to the season’s conclusion.
He remarked: “Alex made his initial appearance on the pitch with his running footwear this week, so it will still be a while. It’s not as if individuals are confined to bed 24 hours a day before they step onto the pitch. However, it’s pleasing for him to be on the field, and gratifying to witness him there. You know you’re entering the final stages of rehabilitation.
“The subsequent phase naturally involves exercises with the ball, followed by integration into the squad, and a period of time is required before one is prepared for match action. It is encouraging that the recovery process has progressed smoothly; commendations to him and our medical team.”
A Transformed Player Anticipated Upon Isak’s Return – Slot
Even though his gradual reintroduction is improbable to yield a substantial immediate effect, Slot is convinced a thorough pre-season – a disagreement between Isak and Newcastle prevented him from having one last year – will enable him to finally perform effectively at Anfield.
The Dutch manager further stated: “He will provide us with a distinct player compared to what we’ve witnessed thus far, yet we foresee a transformed player by the conclusion of this campaign relative to his prior contributions.
“Regrettably for both him and us, we have not yet observed Alex at his peak. That will occur next season. We understand that once a player resumes pitch activity, achieving full match readiness doesn’t necessarily take three months. However, these concluding phases can be variable. Let’s avoid setting a precise timeline, but it’s evident he will be accessible if events unfold as anticipated this season.
“His return is projected around the international break, contingent on whether he experiences any relapse. Late March or early April is when he is expected to rejoin the main squad. This does not imply immediate readiness for competitive play.”
Slot Content with Liverpool’s Enhancement
On Sunday, Liverpool will journey to Nottingham Forest, aiming to sustain their pursuit of a Champions League qualification berth.
Forest secured a 3-0 victory at Anfield earlier in the current season; however, the reigning champions have shown significant improvement since that juncture, suffering only two defeats – both in the final moments – within the league campaign.
Slot further commented: “We have progressed significantly compared to three or four months prior. Our current standing is considerably superior. While there are additional contributing factors, the two most straightforward are our current fitness levels and our marked improvement in set-piece execution.”
Previous Wolves manager Vitor Pereira is set to assume control of Forest in the Premier League for the inaugural time this weekend – marking him as the Tricky Trees’ fourth head coach of the campaign – and Slot intends to closely monitor their Europa League encounter against Fenerbahce this evening.
He remarked: “Tonight is our sole opportunity to observe if this new manager alters the lineup. The advantageous aspect is that they have that fixture, and the manager was active in the Premier League during the previous season.”