Daniel Sturridge injury: Liverpool striker travels to Real Madrid for Champions League tie

Striker posts picture aboard plane bound for the Spanish capital

Daniel Sturridge with Brendan Rodgers during pre-season (GETTY IMAGES)

Daniel Sturridge has offered some hope that he could return from injury in Liverpool's Champions League meeting with Real Madrid.

The England international has managed to play just four games so far this season, playing a role in the Reds' initially positive start to the campaign before succumbing to a thigh injury whilst training with the national team.

He was due to return earlier this month, but on the eve of Liverpool's match against QPR, it emerged the 25-year-old had suffered a fresh set-back, hurting his calf in training.

Liverpool take on Real Madrid at the Bernabeu desperate for a result and will be boosted by the possibility that Sturridge could feature.

The striker has travelled with the team, and posted a picture of himself aboard the Reds' plane bound for the Spanish capital along with the message "Madrid bound with the boys".

Brendan Rodgers has admitted it is "highly unlikely" that Sturridge will play, but that he has been taken will lead to speculation right up until the teams are announced.

Defeat at the weekend against Newcastle was just the latest set-back for Liverpool who have struggled for goals in the absence of Sturridge. Mario Balotelli has only managed to score twice since signing from AC Milan with the club winning just two Premier League games in the last seven attempts, the same number of wins as achieved in the first three matches when Sturridge was available.