The 26 year old needs to show more mental strength
Having written in the MailOnline today that Liverpool should persevere with Daniel Sturridge, despite his latest injury setback, it would be churlish to then overly criticise the striker.
However, considering that he reportedly pulled himself out of the Europa League squad with a foot injury, it’s hard not to feel at least some exasperation toward the player for what many are now perceiving as either a mental weakness or even a psychological issue after having had so many injuries over the years.
Whatever it is, the Liverpool manager himself now seems to be getting on board the ‘Sturridge needs to be tougher’ bandwagon after his latest comments.
Speaking during his pre-match press-conference prior to the Swansea game, Klopp told the press (via BBC Sport): “Everyone wants him back on the pitch but we all have to learn.
“The situation is Daniel was very often injured in the last few months, and maybe years, so it is normal when you get back in training usually it is not the quality, but you need training.
“Your body has to learn to adapt to new intensities of training and in this time you have to learn what is serious pain and what is only pain.”
The Liverpool manager then went on to state that, while it would be ideal for Sturridge to train slowly for five weeks and play a few friendlies, that isn’t possible at present, with such a hectic schedule.
The 26 year old forward got off to a stunning start at Anfield and gained many fans following some amazing performances, goals and his almost telepathic connection with Luis Suarez but he has suffered injury after injury in the past 18 months causing many to lose patience with him.
But Klopp will no doubt show more patience than some fans, as he’ll know what Sturridge can offer him if he can regain full fitness. However, even the German’s patience will have it’s limits, particularly if he feel the striker is being too cautious.
What are your thoughts on Sturridge; should we keep or sell? Let us know your thoughts below.
Sell him.
should stay,we shouldn’t repeat de same mistake we did with luis suarez
Think we should keep him, when he comes back 2 his full fitness, firmino, sturridge & benteke up front would be the most powerfull strike partnership in the league. With coutino behind, playing a 4-2-1-3.
He is a talented player and l would like for him to stay but only if he improves on his fitness levels and become less injury prone. LFC can’t afford to have a player on such high wages missing so many games each season. According to a recent article he has missed at least 68 games in 3 years and featured in 70 games over the same period. That’s a very worrying record for such a talented player on such high wages. We could offer such wages to a new high profile player who has a better fitness record than Daniel.