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With Daniel Sturridge’s hip troubles flaring up following his appearance against Blackburn in the FA Cup, manager Brendan Rodgers had hinted that the club might keep him out for the rest of the season, hoping that they might get a fit and healthy striker back in time for pre-season as a result. However, it turns out things were a little more serious than a precautionary absence might have suggested.
Sturridge this evening took to social media to reveal he had successfully undergone surgery on the hip, and if there was any doubt before, it’s now quite clear that the striker will not be back until pre-season at the earliest. He wasn’t ever likely to be back before then, though, and assuming the recovery goes smoothly, he should be ready to go before Liverpool head to Australia and Malaysia as part of their preparations for the 2015-16 campaign.
The striker has struggled through an injury-plagued campaign this season, missing 125 days and 30 games so far—and at least three more to now be added to that tally. Over the past three seasons and dating back to his final half-season with Chelsea, Sturridge has missed 255 days and 62 games through injury. In limited minutes this year, he has managed five goals and two assists in 18 total appearances.
"Just want to let the world know I’ve had a successful operation on my hip today, and I want to thank God for allowing that to be possible," read an instagram posting from Sturridge, who flew to Boston late last week to see a hip specialist who determined surgery would be required. "Onwards and upwards from here. Thanks for the support."
