The Times - Daniel Sturridge facing lengthy spell on sidelines
Liverpool fear that Daniel Sturridge will miss the start of the Barclays Premier League season after suffering ankle ligament damage while on international duty with England.
Roy Hodgson, the England manager, initially said that Sturridge would be out “for a few weeks” after suffering the injury in a challenge by Glenn Whelan during the 1-1 draw against Ireland at Wembley last Wednesday. But further examination over the weekend has raised concerns that the injury is more serious and may leave him unable to resume full training until August.
Hodgson was disappointed that Sturridge suffered the injury early in his first appearance in England’s starting line-up, denying him the chance to travel with the squad to Rio de Janeiro for last night’s match against Brazil.
For Hodgson, the worst-case scenario is that, as well as missing the friendly against Scotland at Wembley on August 14, Sturridge may be unavailable for England’s World Cup qualifying matches at home to Moldova on September 6 and away to Ukraine four days later.
However, the layoff would be felt more acutely by Liverpool, who are also facing the prospect of losing Luis Suárez from their forward line this summer.
Real Madrid are expected to bid £40 million for Suárez, who is valued at more than £50 million by Liverpool but has begun to talk publicly of his desire to leave Anfield.
Suárez will miss the start of next season, even if he stays at Liverpool. The forward still has to sit out the first six domestic matches of the new campaign, having been given a ten-match suspension by the FA for biting Branislav Ivanovic during the 2-2 draw at home to Chelsea in April.
Discussions continue over potential deals to sell Andy Carroll to West Ham United and to sign Iago Aspas, the 25-year-old Spanish forward, from Celta Vigo.
Roy Hodgson, the England manager, initially said that Sturridge would be out “for a few weeks” after suffering the injury in a challenge by Glenn Whelan during the 1-1 draw against Ireland at Wembley last Wednesday. But further examination over the weekend has raised concerns that the injury is more serious and may leave him unable to resume full training until August.
Hodgson was disappointed that Sturridge suffered the injury early in his first appearance in England’s starting line-up, denying him the chance to travel with the squad to Rio de Janeiro for last night’s match against Brazil.
For Hodgson, the worst-case scenario is that, as well as missing the friendly against Scotland at Wembley on August 14, Sturridge may be unavailable for England’s World Cup qualifying matches at home to Moldova on September 6 and away to Ukraine four days later.
However, the layoff would be felt more acutely by Liverpool, who are also facing the prospect of losing Luis Suárez from their forward line this summer.
Real Madrid are expected to bid £40 million for Suárez, who is valued at more than £50 million by Liverpool but has begun to talk publicly of his desire to leave Anfield.
Suárez will miss the start of next season, even if he stays at Liverpool. The forward still has to sit out the first six domestic matches of the new campaign, having been given a ten-match suspension by the FA for biting Branislav Ivanovic during the 2-2 draw at home to Chelsea in April.
Discussions continue over potential deals to sell Andy Carroll to West Ham United and to sign Iago Aspas, the 25-year-old Spanish forward, from Celta Vigo.
