Sweden manager Graham Potter has eased injury concerns around Liverpool star Alexander Isak, confident the striker has ‘no problems’.
Isak joined the Premier League champions for record £125million fee in August but has scored only one goal for his recent club.
The previous Newcastle United star has not featured since mid-October, missing his side’s last five games because of a groin injury. He was back within the squad last Sunday against Manchester City but didn’t come off the bench as Arne Slot’s side were soundly beaten on the Etihad.
Isak missed 12 games through groin injuries throughout the 2023-24 season and two last term however it shouldn’t be clear at this stage where his most up-to-date issue is expounded or a fresh one.
Despite his recent absence, Isak was included in Potter’s first Sweden squad since his appointment on a short-term deal last month. The previous Brighton, Chelsea and West Ham United boss has been tasked with reviving their World Cup qualification hopes with crucial games against Switzerland and Slovenia looming over the subsequent seven days.
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Sweden are already without Arsenal star Viktor Gyokeres who didn’t meet up with the squad with a muscle injury.
But Potter is confident there aren’t any issues stopping Isak from starting.
‘Alexander is here,’ Potter said. ‘I spoke to him briefly. He’s doing well, he has no problems.’
Sweden suffered a humiliating defeat to Kosovo in October that left their World Cup qualifying hopes in huge doubt.
After the loss, Isak didn’t hold back in his assessment of the situation, declaring the national team to be in a ‘crisis situation’.
‘It’s too rattling bad. Embarrassing. Disillusioned once more,’ Isak said after Sweden’s latest defeat.
‘We’re playing too badly. The best way we’re playing doesn’t work. We’re doing it too badly individually too. So it’s a mix of every little thing really.
‘We’re so rattling dissatisfied as players. And as I’ve said before, we take a variety of responsibility ourselves. We have a look at ourselves within the mirror. And nobody is approved. Not us players, not us as a team. And that after all includes the coach and every little thing around.
‘It’s a little bit of a crisis situation and that’s clear. I don’t know what we’re going to do. But it surely’s all too bad.’
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