Alexander Isak is on course to rejoin full training this week, with the Liverpool striker nearing his return to the pitch after four months out with a broken leg.
Isak has made steady progress in the months since suffering a fractured fibula and damaging his ankle while scoring in December’s 2-1 win over Tottenham.
Slated for a comeback in late March or early April, the 26-year-old is on track and expected to take part of team training at the AXA later this week.
That is according to the Guardian‘s Andy Hunter, who reports that Isak “may be available” for the FA Cup quarter-final against Man City on Saturday.
When will Alexander Isak play again for Liverpool?
However it is considered “more realistic” that the Swede will rejoin the squad for the quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League next Wednesday instead.
Isak could hope to come off the bench in that tie and continue to build up his minutes in the final months of the season.
There will remain doubts over a prominent role between now and the end of the campaign, though, with Arne Slot insisting recently that every caution will be taken with his No. 9.
“I am just as excited as the fans to have him back because it is fair to say that in 90 percent of our games we’ve had more chances than the other team,” he told reporters earlier this month.
“If we had one of the best strikers in the world playing then that would have usually meant that we would have had more points.
“I don’t want to downgrade it too much because I think he can have an impact when he is back, but it is more realistic to expect [100 percent] from him next season than against Man City or PSG.”
Hugo Ekitike: Club Career Minutes Per Season (All Comps)
| Season | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | 2025/26* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 799 | 848 | 1463 | 1396 | 780 | 3644 | 2695* |
* Data via Transfermarkt.
Nevertheless, having Isak available even from the bench will be a major boost to Slot, who was been forced to rely too heavily on Hugo Ekitike in his absence.
Last season with Eintracht Frankfurt was Ekitike’s first as a consistent starter at senior level for any of his clubs and that has arguably shown in the Frenchman’s lack of fitness since joining Liverpool.
Federico Chiesa and Cody Gakpo have both been used up front at times this season but neither is trusted to start regularly in that role, while youngster Jayden Danns has missed almost the entire campaign due to injury.
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