Liverpool skipper Henderson frustrated with foo

Sturridge is continuing to build his way back to a first team return but he will not be part of the squad that Brendan Rodgers takes to Bordeaux on Wednesday for Liverpool’s opening Europa League game.

His global colleague Sturridge concluded an injury-ravaged campaign last season by undergoing hip surgery but the striker has been back in training at Melwood over the past week.

“We know it can be better, and the players are aware of that”, Rodgers said at his press conference on Friday.

Rodgers said: “Jordan will train today, so we’ll see how he comes through that. When you miss players of that calibre, it’s going to have an impact”.

Christian Benteke, Divock Origi and Danny Ings have all filled the void so far this term for Liverpool, with the former having netted twice against AFC Bournemouth and Manchester United, but Rodgers is relishing the return of Sturridge.

No official word has been given on any potential return date for the midfielder, who has watched his team-mates pick up just one point from nine with him on the sidelines, ut Liverpool hope the visit to the United States will help identify the root cause of Henderson’s issues.

“We’ve been waiting for that for quite a period of time”. Whether it’d be wise or not to bring them back into the side already is another matter of course, especially with Sturridge – whose injury problems are genuinely threatening to ruin his career.

“Few can stretch teams like he can with his pace and he has variety with his finishing”.

“He’ll be assessed over the next 48 hours”, Rodgers added.

Rodgers has already stressed his confidence things will improve for Liverpool, performance and results-wise, as time goes on.

He said: “It’s an exciting dynamic to have both Benteke and Sturridge”.