Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson reckons it could be a while before Liverpool striker Alexander Isak is starting matches this season.
The Reds only signed Isak on deadline after a long drawn-out saga came to an end with the Sweden international finally getting the move to Liverpool that he desired.
Despite qualifying for the Champions League, Newcastle could not hang onto Isak with the 25-year-old pushing for a move to Anfield all summer.
After a £110m bid from Liverpool was rejected earlier in the summer before Isak went on strike and released a statement criticising Newcastle.
The Magpies held firm until transfer deadline day with Newcastle eventually allowing Isak to complete a £125m move following the signings of Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.
Isak missed all of pre-season with the Geordies and their opening three Premier League matches of the season as he went on strike, while the Swede wasn’t training with the Newcastle squad either.
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And Sweden head coach Tomasson has sounded the alarm to Liverpool about Isak’s fitness with the striker barely ready to come off the bench to impact matches.
Tomasson said: “We would have loved to play him, everyone would want it. But since he only had three training sessions and no pre-season and of course no match time, the risk was too great to use him today.”
When asked if Isak could play against Kosovo on Monday, the Sweden boss replied: “Hopefully, hopefully, as a game-changer.
“But we have to do the right things with him. In the long and short term.”
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Former Newcastle winger Keith Gillespie can’t understand why Isak would want to leave St James’ Park for another club in the Premier League.
Gillespie told the Here to Compete podcast: “Why would you want to leave Newcastle the way the club is now? They are on the up. You could see it if it was Barcelona or Real Madrid, but he’s moving to a team in the same division.
“He’s quite fortunate that Liverpool have already come to St James’ Park because the next time he comes it will be very hostile for him
“It just seems to be for me, the players hold the cards at the minute. If you refuse to work in any other job, you are looking at the sack, which is effectively what you are doing by refusing to play.
“His team-mates will be disappointed because we know what a special player he is.”
Gillespie added: “We have to draw a line under it because it’s been the main topic in the window and you were sick hearing it. His statement left more questions than answers, and he said the club had made promises, but then he didn’t elaborate on it.
“He has never told us what that was. The club have got the money now and they have brought in a couple already and strengthen the side again.”
