This Season's Injuries

Hmm you think. Be half afraid

England manager Roy Hodgson has no regrets over his decision to play Liverpool FC striker Daniel Sturridge against Germany last month.

Sturridge had to start the Merseyside derby on the bench on November 23 because Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers said the player was unfit following his appearance for England against Germany four days earlier.

Rodgers said after the 3-3 draw: "Anyone who saw the game could tell he was not fit. Because he played 90 minutes, he couldn't train because he has to recover."

Sturridge reported for England duty that week with a thigh injury and, even though he was left out of the team to face Chile, the striker played 90 minutes against the Germans.

The weekend before the clash against Joachim Low's side, Sturridge admitted he was carrying the injury, but declared that he wanted to play at Wembley.

Given that Hodgson has had such little time to have a look at Sturridge within the England fold because of previous injuries, he was desperate to start the player against Germany.

The 66-year-old, who used to manage Liverpool, was therefore unrepentant over his actions, declaring that he had to field the player in order to test his desire to play for his country.

The England manager said: "Dan has pulled out of a few matches with us for injury reason.

"The first game he played (against Ireland) he got injured. It was important for me to, if you like, test his resolve a little bit.

"I suppose you could argue we did put his resolve a little bit to the test.

"I might have been guilty of putting that resolve to the test, but I don't apologise for it.

"And I am delighted he did get out there, even though he maybe himself didn't feel 100 per cent because that means in future I will know I can trust him as an England player and he is not going to be playing when he feels like it - he is going to be playing when he's fit to play."

Sturridge admitted to carrying the injury into the Germany match, but he was adamant that he would play.

The striker has since come out and said he would never turn down the opportunity to play for his country.

Hodgson insists England went through all the correct procedures in the run-up to the game against Germany. He says Sturridge's thigh problem was not severe enough to keep him out of the running for the game.

"He had scans and there was nothing on the scan," Hodgson said.

"I believe the injury that kept him out at the weekend was nothing to do with the injury he was complaining about after playing for Liverpool.

"Daniel Sturridge is a guy that has burst onto the scene. We think he will be an interesting player, but of course I don't have that many months ahead to really sort that out."

Sturridge's bad luck with injuries has continued since as he has been ruled out for up to eight weeks with ligament damage to his left ankle.

Hodgson is not concerned, however.

"They are better getting injured now to be honest," Hodgson said with a smile.

If he maintains his current form, Sturridge will form one half of Hodgson's strike force at the World Cup.

Wayne Rooney will the other component in the partnership.

Rooney is playing some of the best football of his career at the moment. That is good news for Hodgson in one respect, but inevitably, the Three Lions boss will be concerned about the prospect of England's leading talisman breaking down before a major tournament yet again.

Manchester United manager David Moyes says he has no plans to rest Rooney, and Hodgson accepts he is powerless to prevent the player playing all the way through to May.

"There is nothing I can do about it," he said.

"If you said to me you can tailor what they do (during the season), I would be delighted but I can't. I have just got to hope for the best."

Gobshite

What an ejit

Grade A ballbag

Steven Gerrard had tests on Sunday, but the early indications were not promising with the possibility of him being out for a month.
[via Telegraph]

This is not good news. Allen had two decent games so here is hoping all can step up to the plate.

TheKopMagazine
Looks like Jordan Henderson is injured. He left a Liverpool hospital today in one of those plastic boot cast things ‪#‎LFC‬

Great, Sturridge, Henderson, Enrique, any update on Stevie?

Bollix

Echo: Liverpool FC have suffered a major blow with the news that skipper Steven Gerrard will be out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury.

Oh FFs

Oh deary me

Rodgers on Henderson: "Jordan trained so he's fine, It was just precautionary the last few days. It was a bad challenge that was made on him, but thankfully he's okay."

Good stuff

Good news

m hearing Samid Yesil has done his cruciate again and is out for 9 months. Anyone else hear this?

No didnt hear a thing

Is he not just back from long layoff

Yeah, same injury. If its true its gonna be a long road back for the kid

Not good when he is only 19. This is probably it for his lfc career been realistic as he is not a world beaters

Liverpool's assistant manager Colin Pascoe has explained how the Reds will look to welcome back a host of injured stars over the coming weeks.

The Welshman offered an update on Steven Gerrard's progress, as the skipper continues to recover from a hamstring problem he sustained in early December.

Pascoe also hinted that Daniel Sturridge could return within 10 days following an ankle injury and that Joe Allen could be back in action within a fortnight.

On Sturridge, Pascoe said: "He's out there training and continuing his rehab. He's looking good, but we've just got to assess it day-by-day and hopefully it won't be too long.

"Daniel will hopefully be back within a week or 10 days, Joe Allen within 10 days or a fortnight. There's Jon Flanagan as well. They'll all be coming back.

"You will get injuries at any club, but unfortunately for ourselves, we've had a couple close together. Daniel has been out, Stevie's been out. But we've played well. It's not a big squad, but sometimes when you get a tight squad together, you work hard.

"That's showing with results and it's great that Stevie has come back now. Daniel will be back soon. Jon Flanagan has been playing so well, it was unfortunate he got injured.

"So it will be three or four players, hopefully, in the next week or 10 days that come back."

Liverpool's skipper, Gerrard, took to the field to play his first minutes since early December when he replaced Iago Aspas in the 62nd minute of his side's 2-0 win over Hull City on New Year's Day.

The 33-year-old had picked up a hamstring problem during the win over West Ham United a month earlier - and Pascoe explained how the England captain's fitness continues to improve.

"Steven's raring to go," he said. "He's trained well. He had just less than half an hour the other day and he'll be available as well. We're pleased that Steven has come back and he's raring to go."

Agger out for a month http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/daniel-agger-injury-liverpool-defender-3004641

Not get a penny for him in the window now!

Dont think we should sell him tbh. 2 players for every position. Squad weak enough as is

BR on Sturridge: “Daniel will certainly be in the squad for Sunday. I would expect him to play some part against Stoke.”