Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge banned from wearing his own branded clothing
The Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has also cautioned against the 26-year-old's inclusion in England's Euro 2016 squad
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has reportedly been prohibited from wearing his own branded clothing by the club.
The England international, who has spent much of this season sidelined through injury, was spotted warming up for last weekend’s league meeting with Sunderland in a beanie hat, decorated with a logo of his trademark celebration.
However, Liverpool players are only allowed to wear apparel from official kit supplier New Balance, aside from boots. According to The Sun, Sturridge has been told to leave his personal clothing range at home.
The 26-year-old was not seen with the hat during Tuesday’s FA Cup replay defeat at West Ham United, in which he came off the bench to make his first appearance since December.
Sturridge is expected to feature again on Sunday as his side travel to the Premier League’s bottom club Aston Villa.
The striker’s only league goals of the season so far came against the Villans at Anfield in September.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is pleased to have Sturridge available again but remains concerned that, if he is selected by Roy Hodgson in England’s Euro 2016 squad, his injury troubles could return this summer.
“It’s not my decision if he goes with England,” said Klopp. “Hopefully at the end of the season Roy Hodgson can make this decision.
“That’s the most important thing, because that will mean Daniel is fit and playing for us. Roy then has to decide whether he can take him.”
Klopp has regularly cited Sturridge’s lack of a ‘proper’ pre-season schedule as the reason for his recurring fitness problems.
“If I say now, 'Yes, it’s good for him to go' I can see the headline ‘Klopp says Roy hasto take Daniel.',” the Liverpool boss added. “So there’ll be no word from me about this.
“In the summer, if he’s fit, I’d like to have him in the pre-season with us so it’s not something like a pre-season, it is a proper pre-season.”
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