DANIEL STURRIDGE has clocked back on for training with Liverpool.
Sturridge is back from the US where he has undergone a special rehabilitation programme following a nightmare first half of the season.
A succession of thigh and muscle injuries has so far limited the 25-year-old to just three appearances for the Reds this season and he has not played since being injured on England duty in September.
But he was back at Liverpool's Melwood training base yesterday.
Sturridge joined up with captain Steven Gerrard, who was receiving treatment for a hamstring strain picked up in Saturday's 1-0 win at Sunderland.
Gerrard could be fit to face Aston Villa on Saturday, when Raheem Sterling should also be available after his sunshine break to Jamaica.
That game will come too soon for Sturridge as he is nursed back to full match fitness.
But boss Brendan Rodgers hopes to have his star striker back before the end of the month.
With the Reds up to eighth in the Premier League and still in three cup competitions on the back of just one defeat in 13 games, goalkeeper Simon Mignolet insists there is plenty to play for.
Mignolet said: "We feel that there's a bit of momentum in the team now.
"There are fixtures coming up that are really important to us, not just in the league but also in the cups.
"There are loads of things to aim for - winning the Capital One Cup, the FA Cup and we still want to get in the top four of the Premier League.
"At Liverpool, you want to win every game in every competition."
Liverpool are set to offload Moroccan winger Oussama Assaidi, 26, who has been on loan to Stoke, to Dubai-based Al-Ahli for £4.7m.
Meanwhile, next month's Merseyside derby with Everton WILL have a tea-time kick-off despite opposition from police and the local council.
The Premier League have confirmed the game on Saturday, February 7 at Goodison Park will start at 5.30pm even though the authorities want the game played at lunchtime due to fears over crowd trouble.
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Posted By Blogger to SOCCER 24H on 1/14/2015 10:40:00 am