Arne Slot makes admission over new Alexander Isak Liverpool injury setback
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SportFootballLiverpool FCArne Slot says he cannot guarantee that Alexander Isak will return for Liverpool before the end of the Premier League season next weekArne Slot admits he "cannot give any guarantees" that Alexander Isak will play a part in Liverpool's final game of the season against Brentford.The £125m striker sat out Friday night's 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa with the Reds not prepared to take a chance on a player who has been blighted by fitness and injury issues since making the British-record move from Newcastle United on September 1.Isak has missed two of the last three matches as a precaution and was absent for close to four months after breaking his leg at Tottenham Hotspur on December 20.And Slot, whose side dropped to fifth after the loss at Villa Park, admits he is not certain the No.9 will be cleared for a comeback when Brentford are hosted next on Sunday week.READ MORE: Arne Slot admits Liverpool 'crumbled' in 'damaging' Aston Villa defeatREAD MORE: Jamie Carragher left raging by 'embarrassing' Liverpool star during Aston Villa clash"There is definitely a chance," Slot said. "He missed pre-season as we all know and then he broke his leg, we have tried to be as careful as we could with him, taking into account that our other No.9, Hugo Ekitike, is out for such a long time."So we needed Isak as a result of that even more so we have tried to be as careful as we could."I don’t think it could come to anyone as a surprise that if you miss your pre-season and then break your leg that minor injuries can occur if you then start into Premier League games in that intensity."Just a bit of bad luck for him that in a moment of time he comes back, then Hugo (Ekitike) gets injured and we need him more.
I expect him to train with us this week but, yeah, I cannot give any guarantees."Liverpool were also without Jeremie Frimpong and Alisson Becker against Villa as well as longer term injury victims Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni.Wataru Endo, who has been out since February, has hinted he could return against Brentford.Choose Liverpool Echo as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Arne SlotLiverpool FCAston Villa FCBarclay's Premier LeagueAlexander Isak