New hamstring injury puts Daniel Sturridge's December in doubt

Photo credit: AFP.

Liverpool’s injury-plagued striker Daniel Sturridge has sustained a hamstring problem likely to sideline him for a few weeks, according to widespread British media reports on Wednesday. The 26-year-old has only recently recovered from knee and foot injuries and has made only three appearances for new Liverpool manager Jurgen 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, is thought to have resulted in a hamstring strain. But media outlets said Sturridge would be unavailable for “weeks rather than months.”

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 recognized strikers. Attacking midfielder Roberto Firmino has also been used an auxiliary center forward in Klopp’s first games in charge.