Daniel Sturridge to return to Liverpool tomorrow to rejoin training

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that Daniel Sturridge will return to Merseyside tomorrow to undergo the "final stages of his rehab".

The England international has not played since September due to a series of thigh and calf problems, but the 25-year-old is closing in on a return and could feature for the Reds this month.

The forward has been receiving treatment in the United States from medical staff associated with baseball side the Boston Red Sox, who share Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group.

"Daniel Sturridge will be back in the country in the next 24 hours to go into the final stages of his rehab," Rodgers told reporters. "The work he has done in America has been fantastic, specialising in the rehabilitation and he will now come back, hopefully in some part of January.

"He is a top-class player with a wonderful idea of the game and wonderful qualities. His pace is frightening and his movement. As a footballer he is at a great age and if he can stay fit he can lead the charge for us.

"It is difficult to focus on a date, we just need to assess. We've been monitoring his situation and he looks in a good moment."

Liverpool have struggled to find goalscoring form this season with neither Mario Balotelli nor Rickie Lambert providing regular goals.