'No excuses': Liverpool's British record signing Alexander Isak opens up on injury struggles after difficult start to life at Anfield

Alexander Isak has offered a candid reflection on his difficult road back to full fitness following his British-record £125million move to Liverpool in September. The 26-year-old striker arrived at Anfield on deadline day after a high-profile departure from Newcastle, having gone on strike at St James' Park to force through a move to the Premier League champions. His preparations had already been disrupted after spending the summer training alone, and he has been playing catch-up ever since. A groin injury picked up against Frankfurt sidelined him for Liverpool's next four matches, before he was left as an unused substitute in their defeat to City last weekend. Isak finally returned to action for Sweden in their latest World Cup qualifier - a 4-1 loss away to Switzerland - coming on for the final 28 minutes. Afterwards, he was asked how he felt. ‘It felt okay,’ he told Swedish newspaper Sportbladet. ‘I feel like the reaction was good after the match in my body. ‘Hopefully I can play properly in the next match (against Slovenia on Tuesday). It’s always frustrating when you’re injured. Regardless of whether it’s one match or more. It’s always worst for the player himself.’ Isak came on with Sweden trailing 2-1, after Granit Xhaka had restored Switzerland’s lead from the penalty spot. Everton’s Dan Ndoye and Johan Manzambi added two more goals to seal a heavy defeat for Graham Potter’s side in his first game in charge. Isak continued: ‘It hasn’t been optimal. But when I’m on the field, I don’t give myself any excuses. I always want to play my game and perform. ‘But yes, it’s hard to be away and not be able to help and contribute. Now I’m back and I’m positive. There’s not much that’s easy in football. But with experience you learn to deal with things. ‘That’s how it is with injuries and all that. You learn to deal with it and get back on track the right way.’ Meanwhile, Sweden boss Potter confirmed that he intends to give Isak a longer run-out against Slovenia on Tuesday following his return from injury. 'The plan was for Isak to play 30 minutes,' he said. 'It wasn't an easy position in the game to get into. 'Hopefully we'll see more of him on Tuesday.' Potter’s tenure as Sweden manager began far from the fairytale debut he would have hoped for. Brought in to salvage the nation’s struggling World Cup ambitions after Jon Dahl Tomasson’s dismissal - following a return of just one point from their first four qualifiers - he is quickly realising the scale of the challenge ahead. Key players Viktor Gyokeres, Dejan Kulusevski, Lucas Bergvall and Victor Lindelof were all sidelined for Saturday night's game through injury, while Isak started from the bench. Sweden must now pin their hopes on the March play-offs, a lifeline earned through their Nations League results.