Liverpool's Sturridge sidelined with hamstring strain

Jurgen Klopp says it's not easy to say when the English striker will be back to full fittness

LONDON: Liverpool's injury-plagued striker Daniel Sturridge has sustained a hamstring problem likely to sideline him for a few weeks, Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp confirmed Wednesday.

The 26-year-old has only recently recovered from knee and foot injuries and has made only three appearances for Klopp, who was appointed in October, as a result.

The last of those, a substitute appearance in Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Newcastle United, resulted in a hamstring strain.

"It's a hamstring and it's not easy to say when he can be back for us," Klopp told the official Liverpool website ahead of Thursday's Europa League clash against Sion in Switzerland.



"There are two different things we have to look at -- the one thing is the injury and the other is how we can bring him into a shape that is not so intensive for him, so he needs to train.

"The good thing with the muscle injury is that early (on) he can start to run and to train - not football but all the other things he needs. If you look at his history in the last months, and maybe the last year, it's not a long time he's been able to train.

"With all the games, we have to find the specific point when it's possible to bring him (on) for minutes and what makes most sense for his general shape.

"I can't say at this moment what we will do exactly, but we'll have to look at it."



Speaking last month, Klopp said that Sturridge, whose career has been pockmarked by injury problems, had to learn to discern between "pain and real pain".

The former Manchester City and Chelsea player missed most of last season with thigh and calf injuries and then underwent a hip operation in May that kept him out of action for four months.

Klopp is already without Danny Ings, who has been ruled out for the season with knee ligament damage, leaving Christian Benteke and Divock Origi as his only fit recognised strikers.

Attacking midfielder Roberto Firmino has also been used an auxiliary centre-forward in Klopp's first games in charge.