It might be a little too soon to count our eggs before they’re hatched, but ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Premier League pace-setters Manchester City, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been handed a major boost with star striker Daniel Sturridge finally returning to full training alongside captain Jordan Henderson.
Neither player has made an appearance since the German took over at Anfield, but that could change this weekend. After sitting out much of last season with a variety of muscle problems and undergoing hip surgery in the United States back in May, the injury prone striker finally returned to action earlier in the season only to have his campaign curtailed again when an collision with Jordon Ibe in training saw a knee knock get progressively worse as fluid built up around it.
While it remains unlikely that Sturridge will be available from the off, at this point, there’s no reason he couldn’t play a part against the Citizens. Coming through some light training earlier in the week unscathed, he’s now rejoined the main group with the Melwood medical staff monitoring his progress closely. The same goes for Henderson, though the Reds skipper is believed to be much farther along on the recovery scale.
Tailor made for the Klopp playing style, the 25-year old could make an immediate return to the starting eleven with Liverpool missing his tireless running, eye for a penetrating pass and burning desire to win. Although it looks like the bone in his foot that he broke in training has now healed, there is still a question over the pain in his heel that he was experiencing during his last few appearances. Pulled off early during the 1-0 win over AFC Bournemouth back in August, Henderson was sent to a specialist in the United States before he suffered the foot injury; hopefully all is well there.
