Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has confirmed he is back in training and close to ending an injury absence of more than two months.
Sturridge, who scored 21 Premier League goals last season, has not played for his club since the 3-0 victory at Tottenham on Aug. 31. He suffered a thigh injury while training with England on Sep. 5, and then pulled up with a calf problem during a Liverpool practice session on Oct. 16, just as he was closing in on a comeback.
Manager Brendan Rodgers said at a news conference last Thursday that Sturridge was working with the medical staff at the club's Melwood complex, but was not yet ready to join the rest of the squad for full training.
But on Twitter on Wednesday, Sturridge announced that he was stepping up his comeback. The 25-year-old made the announcement in a series of three tweets, the first two of which consisted of a list of his favourite childhood music acts from the garage and jungle genres. He then followed up by tweeting: "PS. Training was class. Happy to be back. Thank you Jesus."
P.s training was class. Happy to be back. Thank you Jesus.
- Daniel Sturridge (@D_Sturridge) November 12, 2014
Liverpool have been hoping that Sturridge will be fit for their next game, a Premier League trip to Crystal Palace on Nov. 23, while he was not called up to the England squad to face Slovenia this Saturday.
The striker has been absent for his club side's last 14 matches, of which they have won only five. They have managed only two victories in the eight Premier League games he has missed, and dropped into the bottom half of the table last weekend following a 2-1 defeat at home to leaders Chelsea.
None of the Reds' other recognised strikers -- Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini -- have scored a Premier League goal this season. Sturridge struck in a 2-1 home victory over Southampton on Aug. 17.