Daniel Sturridge’s greatly anticipated return to Premier League action for Liverpool appears to be around the corner, as the Reds frontman is preparing to return to the squad for the home game against in-form West Ham on Saturday, and he has admitted that he is raring to go.
The Liverpool Echo, with James Pearce’s piece, have stated that the clinical number 15 will make the matchday squad on the weekend and hopefully make an appearance at Anfield, his first since sustaining his injury at the end of October the week after the victory at White Hart Lane, his last game for the Merseyside outfit.
After two further setbacks, it appears that the time is near, after being involved in full training this week.
“I’m feeling great, looking forward to getting back into action and helping my team-mates”.
“It’s a moment I’ve been waiting for for a long time and I’ve missed playing so I will be excited whether it’s this weekend or the game after that or beyond that.”
“Whenever the manager decides to choose me to have some involvement, I’ll be raring to go. I’ve been champing at the bit.”
“I’m ready now – it’s been a long time coming but I am happy with how everything has gone.”
“It’s going to be a great time and I am sure everyone is going to be as happy as I am in terms of me being back out there.”
“I hope people will be patient. I know what I need to do and I am as hungry for success as everyone else.”
“I am just going to give my best and I won’t hold back from anything. I can’t wait to start playing again – that’s what I have been waiting for and working hard in rehab for. I am looking forward to that now.”
It’s been a tough few months for the England international, but he’s glad that he has the chance to make up for what he’s missed out on.
“I’ve been away and I’ve kept my head down, but I’ve kept in contact with everyone,” Sturridge told the club’s official website.”
“It was important for me to get away and just do what I needed to do.”
“Hopefully I will be able to repay the fans in performances and helping the team have some success and win silverware over the years.”
“I committed my future to the club when I signed a contract in October so I have got a few years here to try and repay them.”
“This season and the period I’ve been out will be a distant memory and I am looking forward to hopefully an injury-free end to the season then going into next season. Having some success, whether it’s this season or next, would be perfect for me”.
The Liverpool striker also thanked those who supported him in the rehabilitation process, and is grateful for the help received.
“I am grateful for what I have been through even though a lot of people look at it and say ‘he’s been unlucky’,” Sturridge said.
“These things happen for a reason and everyone goes through certain situations. It just allows you to enjoy the moments that you don’t enjoy when you’re playing. You have successful moments, but you don’t realise that you have to enjoy it.”
“I am very hard on myself a lot of the time so even if I have played well I am still looking at the bad points. It gives you time to assess things and time to assess what you need to do to get to where you want to be in life.”
“I am desperate for success and these moments are ones that open your eyes to what you need to do in life and what you need to do for your career.”
“I am thankful to the guys over there who helped me out, specifically Dan Dyrek and Scott (Schrimscher). It was similar to stuff I would do here with the team at Liverpool and it was no detriment to them, it was just a change of environment and it was important for me mentally to get away.”
“The staff at Liverpool are top class, but over there it was a case of being in a different environment which enabled me to improve in every way. I am happy with how it went.”
“It’s been a great time for me, in fact, for the mental side of the game and I am grateful to God for all I have been through. Everything happens for a reason and it doesn’t put me down at all.”
The Reds have performed much better of late in a 3-4-2-1 formation, and were unlucky not to progress to Wembley for the final of the Capital One Cup after two impressive semi final displays against Chelsea, where the lengthy unbeaten run came to an unfortunate end.
“We’ve been playing very well and I am excited for the future.”
“The lads have shown great character and it’s been a defining few weeks for us in terms of performances.”
“We were very unlucky in the Capital One Cup. We will learn from that.”
“We’ve got a very young squad and I am looking forward to maturing with everyone as a group.”
“Obviously the leader and the figurehead, Stevie (Gerrard), will be moving on (in the summer) but everyone is going to be like a sponge trying to take all the experience and the leadership that we can learn from him because he is a very hard person to replace.”
“I am sure people will step up and will look to bring some success to the club, just like he has done in the past.”
Liverpool face West Ham on Saturday at Anfield in the Barclays Premier League, with kick off at 3:00pm.
