Daniel Sturridge must learn what is pain and what is serious pain, says Klopp - 7M sport

Daniel Sturridge must learn what is pain and what is serious pain, says Klopp

• Liverpool striker pulled out of squad to face Bordeaux with foot problem
• 'Everyone wants him back on the pitch but we all have to learn'


Posted Saturday, November 28, 2015 by theguardian.com

Daniel Sturridge must learn what is pain and what is serious pain, says Klopp
Daniel Sturridge has featured only three times so far this season and is yet to play under Jurgen Klopp.

Jurgen Klopp has told Daniel Sturridge he must start to play through the pain barrier to address the problems that have blighted the Liverpool striker’s career. The manager said Sturridge needed to learn "what is serious pain or what is only pain".

Sturridge was unable to make his first appearance under Klopp on Thursday when he reported a sore foot hours before the Europa League win over Bordeaux. The Liverpool manager described the injury as "not that serious" on Friday and refused to rule out the 26-year-old, who had a scan, featuring against Swansea City in the Premier League on Sunday.

The England international’s dreadful fitness record has resulted in only seven league starts since October 2014 and was a major frustration to Klopp’s predecessor, Brendan Rodgers, who lost Sturridge for 40 of 58 matches last season because of calf, thigh and hip problems. The striker underwent surgery and an intensive rehabilitation programme in the United States in the quest for a long-term solution.

Sturridge has always denied his poor appearance record is both a psychological and physiological issue. But Klopp, who is sympathetic to the forward’s plight and accepts setbacks are inevitable after a long absence, has questioned Sturridge’s willingness to put his body on the line.

The manager, who has been without the £12m striker since Sturridge suffered a knee injury before Klopp’s first game on 17 October, said: "I have not been that long here but I understand why everyone is waiting, but we have to accept the situation. The situation is Daniel has been very often injured in the last months and years. It is normal that when you get back in training for this to happen.

"If it wasn’t for Daniel’s quality no one would think about him being back on the pitch after such a short time. What you need in times like this is training. Your body has to learn new intensity of training and you have to learn what is serious pain or what is only pain. Of course everyone wants him back on the pitch."

Sturridge had trained consecutively for eight days before reporting a foot problem following shooting practice at Melwood. Klopp added: "The training for him was intensive, how it should be, and then we had some new things to talk about. We had to make an assessment and that is what we did. Now we can say it’s not that serious but he still can’t go on as before. That’s completely normal after a long injury.

"If you think since last season he has only been able to play these three games, one against Aston Villa in which he scored two goals, and two others. Last season, he had the surgery; it has been a really long period out now we have to stay patient I am sorry to say. Sorry for me, sorry for you, sorry for him, but that’s the situation."



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