Rodgers reacts to Sturridge setback

Brendan Rodgers has reacted to the news Daniel Sturridge is set to be sidelined for a further six weeks with a thigh injury, claiming the forward may have to see a specialist following his latest setback.

Sturridge has missed the Reds last 14 matches in all competitions, and now looks set to be out of action until the new year.

And Rodgers says the club will now launch an investigation into the 25-year-old’s consistent problems.

Rodgers said: “It’s hugely disappointing to lose a player of that quality.

“It happened in a session and it was quite innocuous. He did it when he just flicked the ball, it wasn’t a shot or anything that looked serious.

“But obviously he felt the pain and then when the medical team told me the next day after the scan it was disappointing.

“Whether Daniel needs to see a specialist is something that the medical team are looking into.

“I think that’s his ninth injury on that thigh from previous clubs and here so there is an issue there somewhere.

“The scan shows a slight tear just below where he had a previous injury.”

With the Reds main man out of action for even longer than anticipated, Rodgers is urging other players within the squad to step up and grasp any opportunities that may come their way.

“Now we just have to concentrate and focus on the players we do have,” the manager added. “It’s that simple – make the best of what we have available.

“At this moment in time it’s about what is within the squad because that’s the players we have available.

“It will present an opportunity to the guys who have maybe been on the sidelines for quite a while.

“We can’t worry about what we had last season or what we have lost. We have to look at the players we have. We have an exciting period of games coming up.

“We want to ensure we go back to our basics and be really hard to beat and be strong and aggressive.

“We want to make an impact in front of goal. Now there’s an opportunity for some players who didn’t think they would get a chance.”