Alexander Isak could be facing a lengthy period to reach peak condition following his £130million switch to Liverpool. While speculation surrounded Isak right up to the final day of the transfer window, Newcastle’s sports science department worked tirelessly behind the scenes to support the player’s physical condition.
Eddie Howe’s parting remarks about Alexander Isak as a Newcastle player will serve as a fitness alert to his new club Liverpool. The Sweden international featured for merely 18 minutes during his nation’s 2-0 defeat to Kosovo in the World Cup qualifiers and is unlikely to start his Reds bow away to Burnley this weekend.
Newcastle had prepared a fitness programme for Isak should he have stayed at St James’ Park, but the anticipation was that it would require until after the next international break in October for him to return to peak form.
A shortage of match sharpness and a reluctance to train with the first-team squad at Benton left Newcastle personnel with significant worries about Isak’s fitness condition.
In previously unreported remarks from Howe, speaking on the day before Alexander Isak’s departure, he said: “Alex had been working individually with our sports science department and they have been getting him fit.
“But in terms of how match fit he is, and what he’s actually done, it is difficult to judge. Match fitness is very different.
“That (how long he plays for during the international break) is for Alex and [Sweden boss] Jon Dahl Tomasson to decide.”
In the end Sweden did not risk Isak at all in the first game against Slovenia, and used him briefly in the second match against Kosovo, with Tomasson having cautioned last week: “We will not do any stupid things with him.
“He has not had a pre-season with lots of training and matches. He cannot play 90 minutes.
“We have a plan. He is smiling and happy to be here. We always have very good communication with the clubs. I have spoken to their manager [Arne Slot]. Our doctor has spoken to their doctor [at Liverpool]. Our physio Ben [Rosen] has spoken to their physio.”
Isak has finally broken his silence following his controversial switch from Newcastle to Liverpool but remains tight-lipped about why he downed tools.
Speaking during the international break he said: “That’s part of football. I can’t control everything that is said or written.
“But I’m glad I became a Liverpool player. That’s what I wanted and I’m happy about that.
“There is a lot to discuss, and it can be discussed for a long time.”