Daniel Sturridge injury: Striker set for early Liverpool return for Merseyside derby

Manager Rodgers hopes forward will be back in training next week

Brendan Rodgers (left) hopes to have Daniel Sturridge back for the Merseyside derb (GETTY IMAGES)

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge could be back sooner than expected from his controversial injury and may be fit for the Merseyside derby a week on Saturday.

While manager Brendan Rodgers has exercised caution about rushing back the 25-year-old ahead of schedule, he said today: “Yes [he has a chance]. It’s just how the injury has responded and he’s working well but we’ll know more early next week.

“He’s out on the field and hopefully at the beginning of next week he’ll be back in training.”

Sturridge sustained a thigh injury during a training session with England before their recent Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland. Both Liverpool and Sturridge were angered with the manner in which the injury occurred, with Rodgers particularly critical of England’s handling of the player’s recovery time in the aftermath of their friendly with Norway.

Initially it looked like the forward would be ruled out until the middle of October. However, he has responded well to treatment on his return to Liverpool’s Melwood training ground.

Should Sturridge be fit enough to face Everton he would also then be available for Liverpool’s subsequent Champions League away trip to FC Basel and their home Premier League match with West Bromwich Albion.

His inclusion for any of those matches would also, in theory, put him in contention for a place in Roy Hodgson’s England’s squad for the qualifiers at home to San Marino and away to Estonia on October 9 and 12 respectively

Rodgers, however, insisted that Sturridge must be allowed time to recuperate ahead of a gruelling pre-Christmas schedule. “We wouldn’t rush Daniel back because of one game [against Everton],” Rodgers added. “Unless he’s fit enough to produce for us then I wouldn’t rush it.”

Meanwhile, ahead of Liverpool’s visit to West Ham on Saturday Rodgers has responded to comments made by the Hammers manager Sam Allardyce in which he accused Liverpool’s players of complacency in their recent 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

“No, we are allergic to complacency here,” said the Northern Irishman. “We are not good enough to do that. Villa played well.”

Rodgers also confirmed that full-back Jon Flanagan could be out for three months after undergoing surgery on his left knee.