Daniel Sturridge will not be making his Liverpool comeback after the international break after further aggravating his thigh strain, according to the Times.
The England striker has not played for his club since August, and last kicked a ball in anger for England in their 1-0 victory over Norway at the beginning of September, but after ten weeks already on the sidelines he is still a way off from making his return.
In the interim period, Liverpool have struggled, with Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini yet to score a Premier League goal this season. At international level, Danny Welbeck has shone in Sturridge’s absence for Roy Hodgson’s men.
Sturridge’s partnership with Luis Suarez was a key reason Liverpool performed so brilliantly well last season, and denied of both of their two main goal threats, it is little surprise that they haven’t been able to reach the same heights.
Brendan Rodgers will now have to make sure Sturridge fully recovers before he steps up his training again, for at present, playing again in 2014 looks optimistic.