Arne Slot issues Alexander Isak injury update with clear message to Sweden chiefs

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Alexander Isak hasn't played since breaking his leg in December's win at Tottenham and Liverpool manager Arne Slot has warned fans not to expect the £125m striker to return to top form immediatelyTo suggest this wasn't what Alexander Isak anticipated when he sealed his £125m switch to Liverpool would be the understatement of the campaign.In a season that's frequently been plagued by misfortune at Anfield, few have endured tougher circumstances than the most expensive footballer in British football history.Having pushed to an extent that is seldom witnessed in the modern game to secure his dream move from Newcastle United to the Premier League champions, there was an understanding within his new club that Isak would require time to return to the sort of standards expected of a striker who was only bettered by Mohamed Salah in the previous campaign, having not featured for his former club throughout the summer.The Sweden international established himself as one of the finest forwards in the English game during his spell on Tyneside, netting 54 goals across his three seasons, 44 of which arrived in the last two, reports the Liverpool Echo.READ MORE: Liverpool given green light to sign Marc Guehi alternative in cut-price dealREAD MORE: Liverpool dressing room verdict emerges over Champions League hopes - 'The new lads'A specially-designed training programme was devised in an attempt to get him as close to 100% as possible having not enjoyed a pre-season before his September 1 arrival on Merseyside, but an immediate international break complicated matters for the Reds, with their new No. 9 subsequently entering the care of the Swedish national team.The club maintained regular communication with Sweden physio Ben Rosen, but a groin problem the following month during the 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt hampered his recovery further, before what may have proved a pivotal moment for both him and Liverpool's campaign; the fractured leg sustained whilst finding the net in December's 2-1 triumph at Tottenham Hotspur.Isak has been absent ever since and isn't anticipated to return for the Reds until early next month and, with speculation mounting over a potential call-up for international duty this month, Arne Slot, speaking on Friday, cautioned that expectations must be managed regarding the striker's immediate return to the form that justified his £125m price tag."If you ask me now I would say I don't expect [Isak to go on duty with Sweden]," the head coach says.

"But we are still one and a half weeks off, there is always co-operation between club and country but I don't expect him to play for us before that."Again, I have to mess up the party again. The last time he did that, it took him a whilst to get up to speed."I am really, really looking forward to having him back but don't get the expectations again so high that the minute he is on the pitch, he is at the level of what we spent that money on."If the absence of such a talented striker wasn't challenging enough for a manager under pressure like Slot, it has resulted in an over-dependence on Hugo Ekitike, the sole recognised, senior centre-forward in the squad.Liverpool have been developing the France international's fitness and his capacity to consistently maintain his peak performance throughout 90 minutes in a competition as gruelling and physically demanding as the Premier League, but the shortage of a genuine alternative has undeniably damaged results.Slot says: "I don't think it's been helpful for the team that many times we have felt we are there, another player got injured, another player got injured.

Look at the recent PSG game (against Chelsea), when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia came in 30 or so minutes from the end and scored twice."I think Pep Guardiola said as well, how important it is to have your players available because this is such a hard league, we don't have a winter break and there are so many games."I don't think there are many clubs in the history of this league who have had a lot of injuries and performed as expected. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.