ALEXANDER ISAK could take a seat on the Liverpool bench for tomorrow’s FA Cup clash with Manchester City after returning to training this week.

Liverpool’s club-record signing has been out since December as he recovered from a broken leg and ankle surgery.

Isak trained on Thursday and head coach Arne Slot said today he could give the Sweden forward a few minutes off the bench but must be careful given the possibility of extra time in the quarter-final.

“He has trained with us yesterday for the first time and today will be the second time after exactly 101 days,” Slot said. “It will take a bit of time to give him a lot of minutes but we will make sure we do the right thing in terms of building him up.

“It is a difficult one because we don’t play a normal game. It could go to extra time so that makes it even more complicated if we think he can only play 10 minutes and bring him on and then it goes to extra time.

“Of course we can take him off again if we have enough players available. Maybe a few minutes but let’s wait and see how he is today, how he feels about it himself. It’s clear after two training sessions in 100 days, it would not make any sense to start him tomorrow.”

The 26-year-old scored three goals in 16 appearances before his injury, but his season had already been disrupted following the summer-long saga over his transfer from Newcastle. However, Slot said he had been impressed by Isak’s recovery.

“If I look at him now compared to where he was before he got injured I see a player that is much stronger, physically in a much better place…” he said.

“I think I’ve said many times that next season when he’s had a pre-season, we can expect more from him than now but even the way he is now is already a big step forward for us compared to what he had when he arrived.”

Mohamed Salah also returned to training this week and could make his first appearance since he announced he will leave Liverpool this summer, ending a nine-year spell that has brought two Premier League titles, the Champions League, Club World Cup, Super Cup and two League Cups.

Asked if the knowledge of his impending departure will inspire Liverpool to add to Salah’s medal collection before he goes, Slot said: “For the club, maybe, but for Mo it doesn’t matter if he’s going to leave the club or if he’s going to stay.

“That’s what he’s shown in all these eight or nine years, that he was always available in his best possible shape, and that doesn’t change in a positive way now he’s leaving.

“If we have Mo in the form he’s had for so many years, that will be a big help for us towards the end of the season.”

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are bidding to reach the FA Cup semi-finals for a record-extending eighth successive year. They have also played in the last three finals.

Guardiola said today: “In the FA Cup or [League] Cup you can always have a bad afternoon but it didn’t happen.

“We were always there and that’s what made me most proud. You can win one title, make a good season but when you realise tomorrow we fight for eight semi-finals in a row in the FA Cup, it’s because it’s really, really good.”