Arne Slot discusses Liverpool target Alexander Isak’s comeback, aiming for ‘optimal performance’ from him.

Arne Slot has indicated that Liverpool striker Alexander Isak may be able to return to team training as soon as next month and is optimistic that the club could witness the “best Alex” this season.

Isak has been out of action since December due to fractures in both his leg and ankle sustained during Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

The injury has added to a challenging beginning for the £125 million ($168m) forward at Anfield following his transfer from Newcastle United last summer, but he could still play a significant role for Slot’s team as they aim to conclude the season on a high note.

“Alex has been on the pitch, not in his football boots but in his running shoes for the first time this week, so that process will take some time as well,” the Liverpool manager stated. “We all understand that once you step onto the pitch, it doesn’t take three months anymore, but these final phases of rehabilitation can also lead to changes.

“In the gym, you can hardly do too much, but at this stage, you must continually check off the next milestone. Let’s avoid setting a specific timeline, but it is evident that he will be available — assuming everything goes according to plan — this season.”

When asked if Isak would be ready around the March international break, Slot responded: “It will be around that time, and then it’s always a matter of whether things go very well or if he experiences a setback. It will be around that timeframe; late March or early April, when he is hopefully back with the team.

“However, just because you are back with the team does not mean you are prepared to play, let alone start a match, as he has been out for months. The last time he was sidelined for an extended period, it was evident that it took him some time to return to the form we expected from him after signing from Newcastle.”

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So far, Isak has netted only three goals in 16 appearances for Liverpool across all competitions, having faced challenges with both form and fitness prior to his injury against Spurs.

Commenting on how the Sweden international will gain from a full preseason this summer, Slot remarked: “That will be a different phase compared to now, but we also anticipate a different player from the end of the season than the one we had in the initial part.

“That is entirely reasonable because I have stated it numerous times that we need to allow him time. If a player has undergone four or five months of solely individual training, we cannot expect him to be at full speed immediately. Unfortunately for him and us, we have yet to see the best Alex, but this club and our supporters will hopefully witness the best Alex this season and certainly in the years to come.”