Liverpool’s former striker Michael Owen, rarely spoken about with much positivity due to the fact he left on a free and eventually joined Manchester United, has discussed the current situation regarding Daniel Sturridge.
Sturridge made his long awaited return against West Ham on Tuesday, his first appearance since an away defeat to Newcastle at the beginning of December.
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Supporters have been kept largely in the dark regarding what’s actually wrong with the forward though, and Owen has admitted confusion as well – especially if his problems are in his joints rather than his muscles.
“I wish we knew a bit more,” he told the Mail. “We all get texts on our phones saying Sturridge has done this or that, but it is all people guessing. I find it hard to have a view until we find out what’s wrong. The club have not really said. Until we know exactly what problems he has had or has got, it is fuelling a lot of rumours.
“People are saying things that are potentially unfair. I have been injured before and if he is getting muscle injuries then I have every sympathy because they are debilitating. You cannot play on with muscle injuries, they just tear, tear and tear until they erupt. It is the worst thing ever.
“However, if he has joint pain – an ankle, a knee and a hip – it can be manageable. It is all about pain thresholds. We have not really been given the information so I do wince a little bit when I see people having a real go.”
Despite Owen’s actions which have ruined his Anfield status (sad, but his own fault), he does have knowledge and experience of injuries. Hamstring problems ruined various seasons for the former Ballon d’Or winner, whose career eventually petered out after he threatened to become the world’s best player around the turn of the Millennium.
Sturridge possesses similar talent levels, but he’s never been able to fulfil it consistently.
He came through the FA Cup clash unscathed and we truly hope this is a sign of things to come.