Liverpool vs West Ham: Daniel Sturridge comeback decision to wait until Friday

Brendan Rodgers says the striker has looked outstanding

Paul Hirst
Thursday 29 January 2015 11:05 EST
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Daniel Sturridge will not feature in Liverpool’s squad on Tuesday night (Getty)
Daniel Sturridge will not feature in Liverpool’s squad on Tuesday night (Getty) (Getty)

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will wait until Friday before deciding whether to give Daniel Sturridge his comeback in Saturday's Premier League game at West Ham.

Sturridge has been out since suffering a thigh injury on international duty last September.

The England striker has sustained a calf injury and another thigh problem during his rehabilitation, but he is now closing in on a return to fitness.

The Reds striker has been training with his team-mates this week, but Rodgers will not decide whether the 25-year-old will take any part in the game until 24 hours before kick-off.

"He has looked outstanding in training, but we will give him another day (before deciding whether to play him)," the Reds boss told a press conference.

"I will have a chat with him (on Friday) and overview the week, how everything has gone, but in my brief conversation with him (on Thursday) I can tell he is happy and feeling very strong in his own body.

"At this moment, he looks in top-class condition."

Ameobi is likely to need time to regain fitness after an unsuccessful stint in Turkey but Pardew said Mutch is ready to play and could make his debut against Everton on Saturday.

"Jordon's a player that caught my eye against my Newcastle side and he's a young player with potential," Pardew said.

"It hasn't quite worked out for him at QPR so we've given him the opportunity to come and play here.

"He's got talent, he can score goals and in our environment hopefully he'll have more success than he did at QPR.

"You need to score goals from all areas of the pitch in the Premier League and that's an area where we can improve."

QPR were reportedly keen to take Palace striker Fraizer Campbell to Loftus Road as part of the Mutch transfer but Pardew insisted "that was never an option".

PA

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