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 just one goal for his new club.
The former Newcastle United star has not featured since mid-October, missing his side’s last five games due to a groin injury. He was back in the squad last Sunday against Manchester City but did not come off the bench as Arne Slot’s side were soundly beaten at the Etihad.
Isak missed 12 games through groin injuries during the 2023-24 season and two last term but it is not clear at this stage where his most recent issue is related 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 former 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 next seven days.
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Sweden are already without Arsenal star Viktor Gyokeres who did not join up with the squad with a muscle injury.
But Potter is confident there are no issues preventing Isak from starting.
‘Alexander is here,’ Potter said. ‘I spoke to him briefly. He is 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 did not hold back in his assessment of the situation, declaring the national team to be in a ‘crisis situation’.
‘It’s too damn bad. Embarrassing. Disappointed once again,’ Isak said after Sweden’s latest defeat.
‘We’re playing too badly. The way we’re playing doesn’t work. We’re doing it too badly individually too. So it’s a combination of everything really.
‘We are so damn dissatisfied as players. And as I’ve said before, we take a lot of responsibility ourselves. We look at ourselves in the mirror. And no one is approved. Not us players, not us as a team. And that of course includes the coach and everything around.
‘It’s a bit of a crisis situation and that’s clear. I don’t know what we’re going to do. But it’s all too bad.’