We take this with an enormous pinch of salt, as in all likelihood, Daniel Sturridge will pick up another problem between now and this return date, but Dominic King of the Daily Mail says the striker will be ready for selection by mid-February.
According to their most recent report, Sturridge will miss the FA Cup tie with West Ham and two Premier League matches with Leicester and Aston Villa, but could be back for the home tie against Aston Villa on February 14th.
Sadly, we just can’t see this being the case. Sturridge announced that he was ready to return on Boxing Day, but one month later, he’s not made a match-day squad and Jurgen Klopp confirmed during yesterday’s press-conference that he keeps on picking up more problems during training.
“He is still working,” Klopp began.
“Sometimes it is better, sometimes it is a bit worse because of other issues. That is all. He has done a lot of sessions in the last few weeks but it is always interrupted with a few breaks. He needs consistency in the sessions and that’s what we try to do.
“His injury history means this (slow progress) is normal. It is not coincidence. Some things are not right if you are injured that often. We have to be really sensitive with all the information we get. That is what we try to do. We’re trying to find a point from which we can train and build up fitness.
“He could do a lot of sessions in the last few weeks, but they have always been interrupted with different issues where we always have to see and wait on what happens. We have to work, together with Daniel, on his fitness. I don’t know what happens after Leicester to be honest.”
Sturridge has scored four goals this season – braces against Aston Vill and Southampton – but he’s only managed to start four games in total. Essentially, injuries have decimated the past two years of his career, and we’re wondering if he’ll ever manage to re-find the form that saw him considered as one of the Premier League’s most lethal strikers.