Alexander Isak has left Sweden's squad with a minor injury and returned to Liverpool, where the club's medical staff will assess him at the AXA Training Centre. Liverpool confirmed on Sunday that he will take no part in Sweden's three remaining Nations League games in this international break.
The Swedish FA confirmed the withdrawal the same morning and also described the injury as minor. Neither statement says which part of the body is affected. Burnley defender Hjalmar Ekdal has left the camp with a minor injury too, and no replacements are being called up for now.
At Sweden's press conference on Sunday, head coach Graham Potter said Isak had a problem with his thigh and that it was nothing big, according to the Swedish news agency TT, as published by Corren. Potter also said Isak had felt something during Friday's match, and that the staff checked it before deciding he should leave the camp. He added that Sweden's medical team had been in contact with Liverpool.
TT also reported that Isak was seen limping in the second half against Romania and had a bloodied toe when he came through the mixed zone afterwards. Nobody has said whether that is the same problem Potter described. Neither Liverpool nor the Swedish FA has linked it to the withdrawal.
Until then, the international break had gone well for him. He gave Sweden the lead after 20 minutes at Strawberry Arena, running onto Yasin Ayari's pass for his 19th international goal, and played the full 90 minutes of a 2-1 win over Romania. Dennis Man equalised nine minutes later, and Viktor Gyökeres restored the lead just before half-time. Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina drew 0-0 the same night, which left Sweden top of Group B4 in League B.
Sweden will now face Poland at home on Monday, Bosnia and Herzegovina away on 2 October and Romania away on 5 October without him.
For Liverpool, the concern is timing. Isak has started all five of their Premier League games this season and scored four goals. That is already more than the three he scored in 14 league appearances during an injury-hit first season at Anfield. The fourth won the game at Bournemouth on 20 September, a 1-0 on Andoni Iraola's return to his old club. It came eight days after a goalless home draw with Fulham.
Liverpool's season resumes when Manchester City visit Anfield on Sunday 11 October, with kick-off at 4.30pm BST. Neither the club nor Potter has given a timescale, and Liverpool have not said whether Isak is expected to be available.
