Liverpool ready to move on as Sturridge undergoes hip surgery
Striker faces fight to be fit for next season and earn his place in a new-look Liverpool team
Injury-plagued Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has undergone hip surgery in New York, bringing his wretched season to an early end and leaving him with a summer of hard work if he is to be fit for the start of the next campaign.
Sturridge was operated on by Dr Bryan T Kelly, an orthopaedic surgeon and hip specialist who has worked with the New York Giants NFL team and the New York Red Bull MLS side.
The 25-year-old, who has been restricted to 18 club appearances this season and just seven league starts, declared the operation a success on his Instagram account and said he was looking "onwards and upwards".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sturridge initially travelled to the US to be assessed by medical experts connected to Liverpool's owners, the Fenway Sports Group. But, according to The Times, "all parties involved in the process have come to the conclusion that surgery represents the best chance of him making a successful and rapid return to first-team action".
The forward will now begin "an intense period of post-surgery rehabilitation", says the paper, and will miss England's upcoiming internationals against Ireland and Slovenia.
After a season in which Sturridge has suffered thigh, calf and hip injuries it is still unclear when he will return. "Liverpool have not put a timeframe on the striker's recovery but Sturridge will have to work on his recovery programme throughout the summer break to be ready for the start of pre-season training," says The Guardian.
What's more, Sturridge "may find his status as Liverpool’s leading striker threatened by the time the new Premier League season commences", claims the paper. "His fitness record prompted the Liverpool manager [Brendan Rodgers] to admit recently that a transfer priority for this summer is a proven goalscorer who can perform 'at the top level every week'."
In an interview with The Times on Saturday, before it was decided he needed surgery, Sturridge insisted that he had not been affected mentally by his injuries. "You have to have a single-minded mentality to get back in the best shape possible," he said. "When you're injured it's important to have that type of mentality... I'm single-minded, zoning in on what I have to do and it's great to be here."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City’s financial charges: what next for the Premier League champions?
feature The club is alleged to have breached financial rules around 100 times over a nine-year period
By Mike Starling Published