Liverpool injury news: Boost for Arne Slot as star forward makes timely return for Reds

Liverpool's record signing Alexander Isak is set to join first-team training on Thursday for the first time since sustaining a serious ankle injury in December.

The 26-year-old striker has been sidelined for nearly four months after undergoing surgery following a fractured ankle suffered during a 2-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur.

Arne Slot's troops are preparing for a vital period in their season as they look to secure Champions League qualification amidst a testing run of domestic results.

The Reds have struggled to maintain their title-winning momentum from last term and currently find themselves embroiled in a battle for a top-five finish.

Slot's side suffered a damaging defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion before the international break, but remain active in both the Champions League and FA Cup quarter-finals.

However, the Merseyside outfit have been handed a significant boost regarding the fitness of their marquee summer signing ahead of the final stretch.

Isak to return to Liverpool training following ankle surgery

Slot confirmed the news on the club's official website, noting that the Sweden international is in a positive frame of mind after his nation secured World Cup qualification.

"I think Alex is in a really good place because Sweden qualified for the World Cup yesterday evening and apart from that he's going to train with the group again for the first time tomorrow," Slot told Liverpool's website on Wednesday.

"If you've worked so hard for three, four months or something like that and then to return to team training, that's for everyone very nice. So Alex is, in that sense, in a good place.

"Of course it's only his first session, after three or four months [out], with the team but it's good to have him back because we all know who we signed and we've signed an incredible striker.

"So to have him again in a team that's usually generating quite a lot chances – and maybe not immediately from the first moment that he can start – but to have him back for the last two months is, I think, very helpful for us."

While the forward will likely need time to regain full match fitness, his presence on the grass represents a major step forward in his rehabilitation.

How will Isak's return impact Liverpool's season run-in?

The availability of another player in attack could be beneficial for a Liverpool side that have a plethora of fixtures across multiple competitions this month, including a Champions League quarter-final with Paris Saint-Germain.

The Merseyside giants play Manchester City on Saturday before facing PSG twice, either side of an important league fixture against Fulham.

Their European exertions then precede the club's first visit to the Hill Dickinsen Stadium.

Isak's return allows for greater rotation as the Reds prepare for a daunting double-header against the French giants in Europe's premier competition.

If Isak can rediscover his pre-injury form quickly, he may yet play a starring role in securing silverware before the campaign concludes.

Furthermore, with Mohamed Salah confirmed to be leaving the club this summer, the integration of the former Newcastle United man becomes even more critical for the long-term project at Anfield.