LIVERPOOL MANAGER BRENDAN Rodgers says Daniel Sturridge could make his long-awaited return from injury against Norwich on Sunday.
Sturridge has not played for Liverpool since an FA Cup win at Blackburn in April and managed just 18 appearances in all competitions last season due to a series of muscular problems, including a serious hip injury.
But after spending the bulk of his rehabilitation in America, he has resumed training with Liverpool over the past fortnight and could play some role when Norwich visit Anfield this weekend.
As well as Sturridge’s imminent return, Rodgers, whose side have lost their last two league games, is also boosted by England midfielder Jordan Henderson’s improved fitness.
Liverpool captain Henderson this week underwent a specialist procedure in the United States in an attempt to cure an ongoing heel problem, but he was due to return to training on Friday.
“Jordan will train today so we’ll see how he comes through that – he has obviously been away and had some work done on his foot, so hopefully all will be well with that but we’ll assess it over the next 48 hours,” Rodgers told reporters on Friday.
“Daniel has been training with the team now for a week or so and again we will assess that in relation to the game.
“We now have players hopefully coming back, which will add to the squad and see us go on a run of games where we can perform well and get the victories.
“Daniel, on his game, is one of the best there is – there are not too many who can compare with him when he is at his level.”
Meanwhile, defender Mamadou Sakho has signed a new long-term contract at Liverpool.
France international Sakho moved to Anfield from Paris Saint-Germain in 2013 and captained the Premier League club for the first time in Thursday’s Europa League draw in Bordeaux.
Great stuff what a great achievement. This 7s team should be talked about more their a credit to the country. Well done
Does it really generate a positive buzz?.Ireland’s 15′s team has been decimated to prioritise the sevens team. The fifteen’s game is what the Irish public actually see and we’ve seen the car crash it’s become.
Let’s face it, like the men’s team in the last Olympics, people will care about it for a couple of days and then go back to ignoring it.
So we’ll done to the squad but I’d still much prefer to see the likes of Parsons and Flood playing serious rugby for Ireland’s 15s team and trying to improve them rather than seeing them every four years in the Olympics.
@Jim O’Connor: would help if RTÉ broadcast the games
@Jim O’Connor: maybe the IRFU have done some research and have found that 7’s is a more attractive form of rugby for young women and girls ?? If you wanted to grow the game perhaps they think this is method to do it? Don’t know, just a theory
@Bert far: Would you give it a rest.
Brilliant!!! And puts the dismal 6nations 15’s performances into perspective- when you lose players of this quality to 7’s it was always going to weaken a 15’s team that was already behind the curve Vs the competition
Was Aoibheann O’Reilly playing?
Yawn.