DANIEL STURRIDGE COULD make his return after seven weeks out through injury in Liverpool’s game at Premier League co-leaders Manchester City on Saturday (5.30pm), manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed.
Sturridge, 26, has not played since Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at Everton on 4 October, having sustained a knee injury in a training-ground collision with Jordon Ibe shortly after Klopp’s appointment.
It was the latest injury setback to have hit the England striker, but he returned to full training on Tuesday and although he is short of fitness, Klopp may yet summon him for the trip to his former club.
“He is as fit as he can be after a long break. Of course he is not at 100 percent and of course we have to see,” Klopp told his pre-match press conference.
“Today was the third full exercise with the team after four and a half, five weeks’ break. I’m not sure Liverpool had that long a break in the summer.
For four and a half weeks he has not trained; not cycling, running; not, not, not. But because he is that skilled a guy, maybe we should… (include him in the squad).
“As a striker, sometimes five minutes are enough and I have to decide this tomorrow (Friday). I don’t know what I will do when I build the squad. I have to think about it.
“Everyone wants to see more of him on the pitch, so you have to train, but we have to find the right balance.”
Meanwhile, Man City striker Sergio Aguero said that he hopes to be fit for Saturday’s showdown.
The Argentina goal-getter, 27, has missed seven games with a hamstring injury sustained on international duty, having scored five goals against Newcastle United on his last City appearance.
His deputy, Wilfried Bony, has sustained a hamstring problem of his own and Aguero is optimistic that he will be in a position to step into the breach for the league’s joint-leaders.
“I do hope I can play in this game,” Aguero told the City website. “I’m doing everything in my power to get to the match in top condition. It’s been a frustrating time.”
