Liverpool To Monitor Injured Sturridge Day By Day

Liverpool FC will have to keep a close watch on striker, Daniel Sturridge with hopes to get him back to full fitness, according to manager Brendan Rodgers.

The 25-year-old has missed the ‘Reds’ past three fixtures with a hip and thigh injury and might have played his last game of the season in the FA Cup quarter-final replay win over Blackburn Rovers on 8 April.

Sturridge, who scored 24 goals in 33 appearances last season, has managed to play just 18 games for Rodgers’ side in the outgoing campaign, netting five times.

“It has just been one of those seasons for him where he has been very unfortunate and has just missed out. We’re just going to have to monitor that day by day and see where he’s at,” the northern Irish boss told the club’s official website.

Sturridge Has featured Sparingly for the Anfield Club This Season Due to Series of Injury Problems. Image: Getty.
Sturridge Has featured Sparingly for the Anfield Club This Season Due to Series of Injury Problems. Image: Getty.

“When he’s been fit he’s been brilliant for the team, the key now is to see if we can get him back fit and consistently playing. We’ll see if that’s going to be this season or the pre-season.”

The England international missed over five months of football through a thigh injury he sustained in September, and also missed England’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania in March due to a hip problem.

“It has been difficult for Daniel, of course,” said Rodgers. “Daniel is a good lad who obviously wants to play, wants to be working and helping the team.

“We’ll do what’s in the best interests of him; we have to protect Daniel and make sure he’s going to be here over the next number of years, playing and playing to the level that we all know he can.”

Liverpool have five Premier League matches left in the season and are seven points behind Manchester United as they continue in the race for the last qualification slot for next season’s Uefa Champions League.