Liverpool and Sweden star Alexander Isak has opened up about his “frustrating” start to the season, while Graham Potter has revealed a fitness update.
Isak joined Liverpool from Newcastle United in the summer in a British record deal worth around £125 million.
The deadline day transfer ended a long saga that had been going on for much of the summer, with Isak resorting to drastic measures to secure a move to Liverpool.
Isak severed ties with Newcastle due to the lack of pre-season and has been playing catch-up with Liverpool since the start of this season, but he is yet to hit his stride.
Although Isak had to deal with some injury problems, the striker was eased into the team by head coach Arne Slott.
Isak has been nursing a groin injury in recent weeks but was part of Sweden’s squad for the international break, making a 30-minute cameo off the bench in the team’s 4-1 loss to Switzerland on Saturday night.
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Sweden coach Graham Potter admitted in his pre-match press conference that his side currently cannot “play two 90-minute matches” in the next few days.
“He had a good week. He’s available,” Potter said before Saturday’s game.
“But we have to react wisely because he is out for a while. He is not ready to play two games of 90 minutes. We have to wait until tomorrow to see.”
After the match, Potter revealed Isak was likely to be given more playing time as Sweden play Slovenia in their final World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
“The plan was for Isaac to play 30 minutes,” Potter said after the game. “It wasn’t easy to get into position during the game.
“Hopefully we’ll see more of him on Tuesday.”
Meanwhile, Isak said after Saturday’s play that “the reaction was good” and “I felt OK.”
“I felt okay,” Isak said in an interview with Swedish newspaper Sportbladet.
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“I felt like my body reacted well after the match.
“Hopefully I can play properly in the next game (Tuesday against Slovenia). It’s always frustrating when you get injured, whether it’s for one game or more. For the player himself, it’s always worse.”
Isak continued, “I wasn’t necessarily in the best condition, but when I’m on the field, I don’t make excuses for myself. I always want to play my game and perform.”
“But yes, it’s tough being away and not being able to help and contribute. Now that I’m back I’m positive. Nothing is easy in football, but with experience you learn to deal with things.”
“That’s what injuries are like. You learn how to deal with them and get back on track.”
