Sweden’s manager has raised the alarm over Alexander Isak’s fitness after leaving him out of their World Cup qualifier on Friday night.
Isak’s was left to stew on the bench as Sweden laboured to a 2-2 draw against Slovenia, with Viktor Gyokeres and Anthony Elanga picked ahead of him.
After an awkward summer with Newcastle, Isak will hope to hit the ground running after joining Liverpool for a British record £125million – but things might not be that simple.
His lack of action over the summer means it was too dangerous to play him, said Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Tomasson said: ‘We would have loved to play him, everyone would want it. But since he only had three training sessions and no pre-season and of course no match time, the risk was too great to use him today.’
Asked if Isak could play against Kosovo on Monday, he said: ‘Hopefully, hopefully, as a “game changer”.
Playing Alexander Isak was too great a fitness ‘risk’ according to Sweden’s manager
Liverpool splashed £125million on Isak but he may not be able to hit the ground running
The striker has only had three sessions with team-mates in three months, all with Sweden
‘But we have to do the right things with him. In the long and short term.’
The striker missed all of Newcastle’s pre-season matches, did not join them on their tour of Asia, and was forced to train alone amid his agitations to leave.
Liverpool eventually got their deal done at the 11th hour but only after Toon brought in replacements in the form of Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, something which was never a certainty.
Newcastle only gave a blunt statement upon his exit, failing to mention his Carabao Cup victory, Champions League qualification, or goals record.
It read: ‘Newcastle United can announce the sale of striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a significant British record transfer fee.
‘The Sweden international joined the Magpies from Real Sociedad in 2022 and made 109 appearances in all competitions.’
But Isak wrote: ‘I want to express my gratitude to my teammates, the staff, and above all, the city of Newcastle and all the amazing supporters for the three unforgettable years we shared together.
‘Together, we have written history and brought the club to the place where it truly belongs. It has been an honour to be part of the journey from reaching the Champions League to winning the first trophy in over 70 years.
Jon Dahl Tomasson watched as Sweden laboured to a 2-2 draw with Slovenia without Isak
‘Forever grateful. Thank you, Newcastle.’
The pressure will be on Isak to make a fast start after Hugo Ekitike’s own rapid beginning, scoring three goals in four games for the Reds.
Players with a £100m+ price tag do not always succeed, and Florian Wirtz has had a mixed start at Anfield, but Liverpool are confident they have the right man after Isak scored 25 times in the last two seasons.
