Slot Reveals When Alexander Isak Will Return as Hugo Ekitike Suffers Devastating Injury Setback
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has disclosed that he anticipates Alexander Isak will make his much-anticipated comeback from injury during the opening leg of the Champions League quarterfinal clash with Paris Saint-Germain next month, while dismissing worries about Hugo Ekitike's fitness issue.
Ekitike has spearheaded the attack during Isak's absence, with the striker sidelined since suffering a fibula fracture in the match against Tottenham Hotspur in December. Sweden's coach Graham Potter had initially supported Isak's potential return for the upcoming international fixtures but eventually conceded this week that it wouldn't happen.
Supporters might not need to wait much longer; nevertheless, Slot encouraged fans to remain patient while Isak works toward regaining his peak performance level.
"Alex will be available [for PSG], absolutely," Slot stated. "The question revolves around what you understand by 'being ready.'
"If you're expecting the same player who performed exactly twelve months ago against us in the Carabao Cup final and was exceptional that day, then I must say I have reservations after seven or eight months on the sidelines.
"However, I anticipate being able to utilize him for certain periods. What exactly I'll get from that remains unclear since he hasn't even trained with the squad once."
Slot Unconcerned by Ekitike Blow
Prior to that PSG encounter, Liverpool must navigate the significant challenge of their FA Cup quarterfinal showdown with Manchester City.
Isak won't be prepared for that fixture, and it seemed Ekitike might also be unavailable after he departed early during Saturday's 2–1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in obvious discomfort.
Thankfully for Liverpool supporters, Slot confirmed he expects the French forward to recover remarkably quickly.
"Hugo, I believe he could feature tomorrow if we required [him] to," Slot admitted. "It was a dead leg, as it's known here.
"Brighton executed what we anticipated. When you're up against a team that's only had 62 hours of recovery time, and your immediate approach is to create an intense match, engage in the opening challenges, physical battles ... nothing inappropriate about those duels, incidentally.
"However, regrettably, there was a collision, which resulted in Hugo's withdrawal.
"That's not beneficial when you must, after just two minutes, proceed without one of the finest strikers the league has witnessed over the past three or four seasons, already unavailable for the entire campaign, Alexander Isak.
"One of the most prolific scorers the league has seen over the last eight seasons being unavailable in Mo Salah, and then losing Hugo Ekitike, who has made significant contributions this season.
"And then, as has happened frequently this campaign, you must discover methods to deploy players in roles they may not be accustomed to."