Heading into this weekend’s trip to the Stadium of Light, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers had a lot to talk about during his pre-match press conference, but the real question everyone wanted to ask was when striker Daniel Sturridge would be not only back in the country, but back in the squad.
“He will be back into the country in the next 24 hours and he is into the final stages of that rehab,” confirmed the Northern Irishman when queried about a possible return date for the striker. “He is a top-class player who has a wonderful idea of the game and wonderful qualities and if you put him into any team it makes them a better team. W are hoping he can stay fit and lead the charge for us over the next few years.”
Sturridge has had a horrible run of muscle injuries that have kept him out of action since the end of August. Warm weather training in California was quickly followed up with a trip to Boston to meet with some medical specialists that work for the baseball team the Boston Red Sox — also owned by the Reds ownership group — over the holidays. The 25-year old, who will continue the last legs of his rehabilitation at Melwood, is expected to be ready for action in time to play some part in Liverpool’s two legged League Cup semi-final tie with former club Chelsea later in the month, but Rodgers was quick to rule out any suggestion that he will be rushed back into the side.
“We are hoping at some point in January he will come back into the team and help us to achieve something. It is difficult to forecast, especially with injuries: you can put a date in and they come back earlier or it may take a bit more time” he explained. “We have to take our time on this one – not just for us at Liverpool but over his career what [treatment] has gone on hasn’t clearly worked as he gets a number of games and then is unfit. We are aiming to look after the medium and long-term here and he won’t be rushed. Hopefully he won’t be too far away.”
