Daniel Sturridge suffers yet another injury setback, reveals Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp

Sturridge has played just six matches this season

(Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp has revealed that injury-ravaged Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge has suffered yet another setback in his bid to return to full fitness.

The England international has made just six first-team appearances for the club this season and none since playing as a second-half substitute during the 2-0 defeat against Newcastle United at St James’ Park on 6 December.

Although a hamstring injury has been the latest problem to afflict Sturridge, the 26-year-old has also been forced onto the sidelines with foot, knee, hip, groin and thigh injuries since almost Liverpool to the Premier League title in the 2013-14 season.

And with Klopp insisting he would only restore Sturridge to his squad when fully fit, the Liverpool manager has now admitted that the former Manchester City and Chelsea forward has been unable to keep pace with his pre-assigned rehabilitation programme.

"Daniel had some problems, not serious, but he could not make a session and we had to wait a day,” Klopp said. "Because he didn't have one session with the team it was not the usual plan for this week.

"It would be easy for me to say 'Come on, let's try, we have problems, we don't score enough goals, let's see what will happen' but we have to wait and be patient.

"It is how a pre-season can be. Some little things happen and we have to handle this. It is not a row of sessions and we say 'Now we are here and go...”

With Sturridge unable to complete a full pre-season campaign with Liverpool since arriving at Anfield in January 2013, Klopp insists that the player must now go through a ‘mid-season pre-season’ before returning to first-team contention.

“I will pick him when he is ready, I will not hold him back,” Klopp said. “But what Daniel has to do at this moment is hard work to be prepared for the things we make in a football game.

“He had the last complete pre-season in 2011 or 2013 - it is a long time.

"In pre-season we load our bodies with strength, energy, all we need for the games, otherwise then the problems start.”