When Liverpool secured Alexander Isak for a British record transfer fee last summer, it was seen as the final piece to an already reigning champion that was set to begin a multiple year run of dominance.
The Sweden international was respected as one of the five best strikers in the world at the time, and his elite technical finishing ability would be the final ingredient to the Reds scoring for fun weekly.
However, Isak missed the entire preseason as a result of his desire to force his way out of Newcastle to get to Anfield, and as a result, he was playing catchup from the moment he arrived.
Even as Arne Slot slowly eased him into action, it was clear there was a lot of rust to shake off before he could once again be the player that warranted the insane transfer fee it took to sign him.
It should have been inevitable that niggling injuries piled up, that slowed his progress even more. However, even with that, he was showing signs of the player we knew. The last time he touched a ball for Liverpool, it was scoring a goal in their 2-1 win over Tottenham in December.
Unfortunately, it was on that goal that Micky van de Ven lunged in and broke Isak's fibula and ankle. It was elation to agony in a flash.
As we stand now, nearing the middle of March, Liverpool are in the hunt for Top 4/5 in the league, facing a deficit in the Champions League Round of 16, and facing Manchester City in the FA Cup quarterfinal.
Things could turn sour very quickly in just the next few weeks. Against that backdrop, reports are coming out that Isak is ahead of schedule in his rehab process and could make a return sooner than later.
I'm here to look at both sides of this discussion, to see if the pros outweigh the cons right now of an early return to the fold for Alexander Isak.
Liverpool should get Isak on the pitch ASAP
While Isak has still not returned to full training, the expectation is that he will be on the pitch again this season for Liverpool.
If he comes back even close to his best, it would be a huge boost to the attack for Slot. Outside of Hugo Ekitike, we have not seen consistent goal production from any other forwards.
Mohamed Salah, despite a few goals recently, has been a shell of himself for most of the season and Cody Gakpo has been average at best over the last few months. Florian Wirtz had a purple patch before getting injured and that is about it.
Rio Ngumoha has begun to get more chances lately and he has done well creating, but none of those players right now can match the finishing prowess of a fully fit Alexander Isak.
If the Reds have any hope of moving on in the UCL, or finishing Top 5 in the league, they need more goals from the front. Free-kick goals cannot be counted on as much as they have been this season.
The presence of Isak alone would open more lanes for others to attack in, which in theory should free what has been a stunningly stagnant front line for much of the season.
If he's fit, or close to it, Slot might not have a choice if he wants to salvage what is left of this frustrating season.
Isak can offer so much to the attack, with his elite positioning, touch and finishing, and having him back could also help Alexis Mac Allister and Wirtz recapture their fine form as well as they'd have a proper No. 9 to seek out at all times.
Let Alexander Isak get fully fit for next season
On the other side of the coin, we have the pragmatic and long-term thinkers. This mindset would allow Isak to return on his body's timeline, and not the club's.
In a best case scenario of his return, let's be generous and say he is back by the first or second week of April. Liverpool might still have a full fixture list at that time or they could only be playing weekends.
That might play a big role in this conversation, in that if there is no Cup glory to chase after, Ekitike should be enough on a weekly basis to start up top to finish the season. A returning Isak would clearly be rusty, just as we saw in the fall, and that version of him proved he could be invisible at times.
By the time he got properly ramped up, operating under the premise of continued health, the season would almost be winding down.
Is it worth him aggravating the injury or finding another issue for one or two matches at the end of the season in his best form? Maybe, but the long-term prognostications would say that isn't the smart route.
If his rehab continues through the end of the season, he would likely miss the World Cup. but a full summer of healing and rest would mean the Reds would get a fully charged, motivated and eager Alexander Isak to lead the line going into the 2026/27 campaign.
That is an exciting thought on its own, even if does mean we'd have to suffer a little more this season.
That version of our No. 9 would be the one we paid record sums to get to Anfield, and a 25 goal haul next term would be a just reward for patience shown today in a time of crisis at the club.
In addition, with Salah seemingly on his last legs and maybe even out the door, a fully recharged and fit Isak will be even more important to the club next season and beyond.