The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsLiverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has today insisted that he will manage Daniel Sturridge’s return to action cautiously, because the striker could easily ‘break’ again.
Sturridge bagged two goals in Liverpool’s narrow victory over Aston Villa over the weekend and the frontman has been hailed by fans and pundits alike as the returning prodigal son.
But, the striker missed the last six months through injury and managed just 12 league games in the entire of last season.
The Englishman has always been a pivotal part of Liverpool’s attack and has been greatly missed, but Rodgers has been quick to try and provide some perspective on Sturridge’s situation.
”We have seen from the game at the weekend he is still building his way towards full fitness.
”Daniel has worked very hard and has come back ahead of schedule but we just have to make sure we don’t break him at this stage.”
The Northern Irishman has also hinted that he would prefer if England didn’t overuse Sturridge in the upcoming internationals, Sturridge’s original injury that kept him out until the end of January of this year occurred while on duty with England around this time a year ago.
”I don’t necessarily speak so much with the international managers.
”When players go away I let them deal with it. They are highly qualified professionals who work at that level.
”In Daniel’s case it is probably worth me noting to the FA where he is at in this period of his fitness. He is a player who is coming back from injury.”
Sturridge will not play any part in Liverpool’s Europa League tie with FC Sion on Thursday and Rodgers has insisted that the competition will be used to give fringe and young players a stage on which to impress, despite this year’s winner gaining a place in next year’s Champions League.
