Why Alexander Isak did not play for his country in Sweden draw

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Image Credits: Imago Images

After a long and stressful summer for the Swedish striker, Alexander Isak finally completed his move to Liverpool on deadline day.

He made it clear throughout the summer that his wish was to depart Newcastle United, and it became clear that despite the Magpies stance being that the striker was not for sale, it was very much in the best interest of both parties that Isak departed.

Now, Alexander Isak has joined the Premier League champions, but he continues to work his way back to full fitness after being excluded from full team training all summer.

Liverpool’s latest recruit last played a competitive match on the last day of the Premier League season, meaning he hasn’t been part of a match day squad since May.

Despite this, Sweden still opted to call Isak up ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Kosovo.

Isak trained three times before Friday’s game and Sweden’s manager Jon Dahl Tomasson insisted that Isak’s absence was simply a case of any potential involvement for Isak posed “too big a risk” at this stage.

Speaking to Viaplay, via Fotbollskanalen, Tomasson said: “He had only done three training sessions with the team.”

“No pre-season with the team and of course no playing time?

The risk is probably a bit too great to use him.”

“We would have loved to put him in the team straight away.”

“But after only three training sessions, no normal pre-season and no matches for three months, it’s too big a risk.”

Alexander Isak was named in the match day squad, but as a substitute, and that is where he remained for the entirety of the game as Sweden played out a 2-2 draw with Slovenia.

Tomasson did make it clear that Isak could feature in Sweden’s next game against Kosovo.

“Hopefully, hopefully

As a game-changer.”

The need to ease Alexander Isak back into competitive action will be appreciated by Liverpool, as the last thing they want is an injury suffered to a player they just spent £125m on.

However, it does strengthen the idea that the Swede is unlikely to start or feature at all in Liverpool’s trip to Burnley on September 14th.

It remains to be seen the decision that Arne Slot makes on that one.

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