Exclusive Interview : Daniel Sturridge's Comeback

Daniel, it's great to see you back at Melwood. Firstly, how are you feeling at the moment, both physically and mentally?
I'm feeling great, looking forward to getting back into action and helping my teammates.

We know you've recently returned from a period in the United States. How useful was that for your rehabilitation?
It was hugely important and I am thankful to the guys over there who helped me out, specifically Dan Dyrek, who works for Fenway and was very good. There was also a guy called Scott [Schrimscher] and there was Katz - there were a few people there who helped me out and I am grateful to all of them for the work they did for me.

What kind of work were you doing out there in America?
It was similar to stuff I would do here with the team at Liverpool and it was no detriment to them, it was just a change of environment and it was important for me, mentally, to get away. The staff at Liverpool are top-class, but over there it was a case of being in a different environment with weather and a different team of people which enabled me to improve in every way, shape and form. I am happy with how it went.

You say it's been a good time for you mentally - do you think you're a stronger person having been through something like this?
Yes, for sure. It just allows you to enjoy the moments that you don't enjoy when you're playing. You have successful moments, but you don't realise that you have to enjoy it. I am very hard on myself a lot of the time, so even if I have played well I am still looking at the bad points. It gives you time to assess things and time to assess what you need to do to get to where you want to be in life.

How important have your teammates and the manager been over the last few months? What kind of messages have they been sending you while you've been out?
It's been positive things, really. I've been away and I've kept my head down, but I've kept in contact with everyone. It was important for me to get away and just do what I needed to do, watch from afar and see my teammates and how well they were playing. It's been an important period for myself, but I am looking forward to the future and everything from now going forward is hopefully going to be positive.

You're coming back into the team at a good time. They've played very well over the last couple of months. It's certainly a positive, exciting period...
Yes, it is - very exciting. The lads have shown great character and it's been a defining few weeks for us in terms of performances. We were very unlucky in the Capital One Cup, but obviously it wasn't meant to be. We will learn from that and it will be big for everyone's future. We've got a very young squad - people don't realise how young our squad is. I am looking forward to maturing with everyone as a group and hopefully we can all stay together. Obviously the leader and the figurehead, Stevie, will be moving on but everyone is going to be like a sponge trying to take all the experience and the leadership that we can learn from him because he is a very hard person to replace. I am sure people will step up and will look to bring some success to the future of the club, just like he has done in the past.

liverpoolfc.com

Brendan Rodgers : About Comeback of Some Key Players

"We're getting there in terms of injuries."

About Raheem Sterling's comeback
"Raheem is back in the squad, which is good news. He's refreshed and ready to work.

About Glen Johnson's comeback
"Glen Johnson has been back in training, so we'll see how he is in terms of availability. He's not been training for long, so we'll see how he is after the session tomorrow [Friday]."

About Adam Lallana's comeback
"We're monitoring the likes of Steven and Adam Lallana. Adam's been out for a little while, but he's on the field.
"He was playing very, very well and has settled into the club very well.
"He's ahead of schedule in terms of his rehabilitation. We're hoping he can join the group tomorrow to train.
"If he's not available for the weekend, then certainly for Chelsea he will be.
"He's a wonderful technician; he's linked up with players when he's played and he will only get better as his time progresses here at the club."

About Steven Gerrard's comeback
"We'll see by the end of play tomorrow [with Steven]. If not, then hopefully by the Chelsea game.

About Daniel Sturridge's comeback
"Daniel Sturridge is back and working well. He's obviously not ready to play as of yet, but he's working well, so hopefully in the near future he'll be ready.
"Time will tell. We just want him fit and there's no timeline on that as such.
"He's working hard, he's back in the final stages of his rehab here at the club, but there is no time on it yet."

About Jon Flanagan & Joe Allen Progress
"Young Jon Flanagan is still a little bit of time off [from fitness] and Joe Allen should be back training with the group in the next couple of days.

liverpoolfc.com

Brendan Rodgers : About Daniel Sturridge Recovery

"He will be back into the country in the next 24 hours and he is into the final stages of that rehab," said Rodgers.

"Two years ago, he came in the January window (from Chelsea) and made a great impact and has been fantastic when he has been fit here. He is a top-class player who has a wonderful idea of the game and wonderful qualities and if you put him into any team, it makes them a better team - his pace is frightening, his touch and his movement."

"As a footballer, he is at a great age and if he can sustain his fitness, he has already shown in his goals here - one of the quickest players to the goals record he has here - we are hoping he can stay fit and lead the charge for us over the next few years."

"The work he has done in America has been fantastic; he has been well supported out there and he has travelled about to get treatment from the best people in the world."

"We are hoping at some point in January he will come back into the team and help us to achieve something. It is difficult to forecast, especially with injuries: you can put a date in and they come back earlier or it may take a bit more time."

"We have had lots of collaboration with our people in America, a lot of great work has gone on, we have been monitoring and he looks in a real good moment. We will assess him first, see where he is at and get the feeling from him."

"We have to take our time on this one - not just for us at Liverpool but over his career what (treatment) has gone on hasn't clearly worked as he gets a number of games and then is unfit. We are aiming to look after the medium and long-term here and he won't be rushed. Hopefully he won't be too far away."

football365.com