Daniel Sturridge has declared himself happy to be back as the striker steps up his return from a long-injury lay off. The 24-year old has not featured since 21 August after a thigh strain he got while on England duty followed by a calf problem he picked up in his first session back with his club.
After spending the last week in rehabilitation sessions at Melwood, the striker has now returned to training, although most of the first-team squad are on international duty, he will not be involved in proper full sessions until next week.
“Training was class. Happy to be back,” Sturridge tweeted on Wednesday, having written on social media after Saturday’s defeat to Chelsea he was “looking forward to returning to full training next week”.
After missing 14 matches for Liverpool the England forward is targeting a return to action when the Premier League resumes after the current break with the match at Crystal Palace on Sunday 23 November.
“I’ll be ready for that one, God willing,” Sturridge told BT Sport at the weekend. “It’s the worst feeling to be honest but that’s football. Everyone picks injuries up.”
During his time away, Liverpool have won just five games- two of those in the Capital one Cup- and lost seven. Their Premier League record during this run shows five defeats and only eight goals scored in seven matches as summer signings Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert have been unable to find the net for a better part of the season.
Liverpool have dropped to 11th position in the league table, 15 points behind Chelsea though still only 4 points away from a Champions League qualification spot.
Sturridge said in October that he feared his injury problems could be hereditary.
“I play my game as best I can, but I’ve been unfortunate this season. Maybe it’s my body type, maybe it’s hereditary. Both my uncles had injuries, and my dad had them as well. Maybe it’s the Caribbean vibes, maybe I have speed but maybe it makes you more vulnerable because of the fast-twitch muscles and the speed in which you’re moving.
“I am vulnerable to muscle injuries. But as long as I continue to work hard everything will take care of itself.”