Alexander Isak Returns to Liverpool With Thigh Injury

Alexander Isak is heading back to Liverpool after a thigh injury picked up in Sweden's 2-1 win over Romania proved worse than first feared. He will miss all three of Sweden's remaining Nations League fixtures.

Sweden boss Graham Potter confirmed the diagnosis on Sunday, having initially been unclear whether the issue was linked to the bloodied toe Isak was seen with after scoring the winner in the 20th minute against Romania.

"He's got a small problem with his thigh. It's not a big one but because of the amount of games we've got in a small space of time, he won't be able to make those," Potter told reporters. "Not a big one but it's frustrating for him and obviously for us. It is what it is but we move forward with the players we have."

Potter explained the delayed diagnosis. "It was during the game. Like anything, you sometimes get bumps and bruises in the game, you might think it's a bit of a dead leg or something. But actually as the 24 hours, 48 hours after the game, not quite what you think. Unfortunately after getting it checked out, it's a little bit more than what you think during the match. He has to miss the rest of the camp."

Isak, 27, withdrew on the eve of Monday's game against Poland. Sweden also play Bosnia & Herzegovina and Romania again before the window closes, and go into those fixtures third in their World Cup qualifying group on 4 points after three matches. Liverpool said their medical staff at the AXA Training Centre will now assess him.

The striker, who joined from Newcastle United for £125 million last year, is Liverpool's leading scorer this season with four goals in five Premier League appearances, one behind Manchester City's Erling Haaland at the top of the scoring charts. He scored the winner in Liverpool's last league outing at Bournemouth. Sweden centre back Hjalmar Ekdal, of Burnley, also left the camp with a minor injury, and no replacements have been called up.

Isak lost around four months last season to a fractured leg, so any recurring fitness trouble around him draws close attention. Liverpool are next in action against Manchester City at Anfield on 11 October, and whether he is fit for that fixture will depend on what the club's medical assessment finds this week.