Slot speaks on Isak’s Injury timeline

Alexander Isak could be back in contention for selection at Liverpool by the end of March, says manager Arne Slot.

Isak has been ruled out since December with a leg fracture and having had ankle surgery.

Liverpool’s record signing – in a deal for £125m during the summer – has managed just 16 appearances for the Reds.

“Alex has been on the pitch, not with his football boots but with his running shoes for the first time this week,” Slot said on Thursday.

“The next step is doing work with the ball, which every player likes most, then the next step is to come into the group – and then it takes a while before you’re ready to play.

“It will be some time around end of March or start of April when he is hopefully back with the group. That is not to say you are ready to play, let alone start a game.

“But it’s nice that rehab goes well; that’s a compliment to him and our medical staff.

“We all know the moment you go on the pitch it doesn’t take three months, but these final stages of rehab can also make it change.”

Slot explained Jeremie Frimpong – recently sidelined with a hamstring issue – could return for next weekend’s visit of West Ham to Anfield.

Slot confirmed Joe Gomez is available and fit to start. Jeremie Frimpong “will not be involved this weekend” but Slot said “we hope he will be involved next week if things go as planned”.

Wataru Endo will be out “for a long time” with the injury he sustained against Sunderland but there is not yet a timescale, while Alexander Isak “has been on the pitch not with his football shoes but with his running shoes for the first time this week so it will still be a while”.

More on Isak, who continues to recover from a broken leg: “You do know you’re in your final stages of rehab. Next step is, of course, doing work with the ball and then going into the group, but it takes a while before you’re ready to play. It’s nice that rehab has gone well- compliments to him and our medical staff. Let’s not put a timescale on it but it’s clear he will be available if things go as planned this season.”

Asked whether the Reds needed free midweek, Slot said: “Not needed it, no. Maybe if you ask me again in a month it’s different. It was nice to have days off, but I didn’t really need it. Last season, I maybe needed it more. I’m enjoying the work I do over here – I enjoy working with the players and the staff.”

On Dominik Szoboszlai’s position: “He played a good game in midfield [against Brighton in the FA Cup]. The week before he played a very good game at right-back, and the week before a good game in another position. A player with his quality can play in multiple positions and I have to find the best position for him and for the team.”

On facing Vitor Pereira’s Forest after losing at 3-0 at home earlier in the season when they were manager by Sean Dyche: “Back then, it was Dyche’s third or fourth game. That makes it a little bit more difficult. We only have tonight [Forest’s Europa League match at Fenerbahce] to see if this new manager changes personnel. The good thing is they have that game, and the manager was in the Premier League last season.”

On a recent return to goalscoring form: “We always try to press, bring the ball out from the back, and we want to entertain. We don’t always achieve that. Sometimes it’s about us and sometimes it’s the teams facing us don’t want an entertaining game. For a lot of the season, when we’ve lost or drawn, we have not deserved it. Things went a bit more back to normal recently and you can see that in performances and results.”