Daniel Sturridge is edging closer to fitness, according to Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.
As the Reds prepare for their opening Premier League game of the new season away at Stoke City on Sunday, Rodgers gave an update on the return of the England striker.
Flanagan and Sturridge train at SGP ahead of the World Cup
Sturridge has been out of action since April and is currently recovering following an operation on a long-standing hip problem.
The 25-year-old featured just 19 times for the Anfield outfit last season and the most recent of his 16 England appearances came against Norway last September.
Earlier this week, Sturridge posted a video of himself on instagram stepping up his rehabilitation and Rodgers suggests he will be back early next month.
Rodgers said: "Daniel will hopefully be back towards the beginning of September – he's working very hard."
Meanwhile, Liverpool and England defender Jon Flanagan is expected to be back playing before the end of the year after sitting out the whole of last season with a knee injury.
Flanagan was on Roy Hodgson's standby list for Brazil 2014 and made his England senior debut in the first of their two warm-up games in Miami ahead of the World Cup.
"The great news with Jon is that he's working really well and is on target to come back just before Christmas, which would be great news for the squad," added Rodgers.
