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Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is edging closer to a comeback after completing his first full training session in more than a month, sources have told ESPN FC. Sturridge, 26, has yet to play under Jurgen Klopp after sustaining a knee injury on the eve of the new manager's first match at Tottenham on Oct. 17. The England international has played just 242 minutes across three matches this season after recovering from hip surgery which had ruled him out of the final six weeks of the previous campaign. However, sources say that he trained with the full Liverpool group -- those not involved in internationals -- at Melwood on Tuesday afternoon. It was the first time Sturridge had been part of the group since a collision with Jordon Ibe in training sidelined him in mid-October. He was monitored by medical staff during and after the session to assess how he reacted and they will continue to keep a close eye on him for the rest of the week. Klopp has resisted the temptation to try to rush back the striker -- despite injuries to Danny Ings and Christian Benteke, which left him with Divock Origi as his only fit centre-forward at one stage. Therefore, the German is unlikely to take any chances with Sturridge ahead of Saturday's trip to Premier League leaders Manchester City, although another step forward in the player's scheduled recovery will be a positive for him. He will be wary of rushing back a player who has suffered five separate injury setbacks since the beginning of last season -- and has made only 10 league starts in that time. Sturridge has missed seven matches since picking up his latest injury, which took longer than expected to heal because of a build-up of fluid on his knee. Injury problems continue to trouble Klopp, with captain Jordan Henderson still working his way back to fitness after an operation on a broken bone in his foot, which has prevented him working with his new manager. However, Klopp was boosted by the return to training on Monday of James Milner and Ibe after hamstring and knee injuries respectively ruled them out of international duty. Information from the Press Association was used in this report.
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