Daniel Sturridge may not play again this season, his manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed.
The England and Liverpool striker has not featured since picking up a hip injury in the Reds’ FA Cup quarter-final victory against Blackburn on 8 April.
Injuries have limited Sturridge to just 18 appearances for the Anfield side this term, and Rodgers says it has been a frustrating time for his star striker.
Daniel Sturridge has scored five goals during the 2014-15 season
"It has been difficult for Daniel, of course," said Rodgers.
"Daniel is a good lad who obviously wants to play, wants to be working and helping the team.
"But it has just been one of those seasons for him where he has been very unfortunate and has just missed out.
“We're just going to have to monitor that day by day and see where he's at.”
Liverpool have five fixtures remaining this season.
“We have to protect Daniel and make sure he's going to be here over the next number of years”
Brendan Rodgers
They take on QPR and Crystal Palace at Anfield and have trips to Hull, Chelsea and Stoke City to contend with before signing off for the season.
And Rogders says he does not know whether Sturridge will recover in time to compete for a place this term.
"When he's been fit he's been brilliant for the team, the key now is to see if we can get him back fit and consistently playing,” he added.
“We'll see if that's going to be this season or the pre-season.
"We'll do what's in the best interests of him.
“We have to protect Daniel and make sure he's going to be here over the next number of years, playing and playing to the level that we all know he can."
