Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson has allayed any Liverpool fears that new signing Alexander Isak will be rushed back into action during the international break.
The new British record transfer signing has immediately joined up with his national team this week after completing a blockbuster £130million switch from Newcastle to Anfield on Deadline Day.
However, how much Isak is able to feature for Sweden remains to be seen, with the player having not featured for Newcastle throughout pre-season or indeed during the early stages of the new Premier League campaign as well as training separately from the first-team squad as he tried to force a move to Liverpool in a bitter, long-running saga.
Sweden, having been promoted in the Nations League last year, officially begin qualifying for the 2026 World Cup with a Group B trip to face Slovenia in Ljubljana on Friday night, before then moving on to meet Kosovo in Pristina on Monday.
And Tomasson has vowed to be careful with Isak’s fitness, insisting a plan is in place for the 25-year-old after talks held between the Sweden coach and Liverpool counterpart Arne Slot, plus the respective team physios.
“We will not do any stupid things with him,” the former Blackburn boss told Swedish outlet Fotboll Skanalen, per Sport Witness.
“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. Our doctor has spoken to their doctor. Our physio Ben (Rosen) has spoken to their physio.
“I am happy that the guy is here. It doesn’t matter where the players play as long as they play and that they are happy… and he is extremely happy.”
Liverpool fans will hope that Isak is fit to feature straightaway following the early September international break, with a trip to newly-promoted Burnley coming up next in the Premier League on September 14.
They then host Atletico Madrid in their Champions League opener before a home Merseyside derby clash with Everton and Carabao Cup third round tie against Southampton.
