Daniel Sturridge could return to action for Liverpool later this month against Everton, Jurgen Klopp has revealed.
Sturridge has not made an appearance for the Reds since last month’s goalless draw at Southampton after picking up a calf injury during a training session.
He also missed Liverpool’s mid-season break in Barcelona earlier this week in order to receive treatment on the problem at the club’s Melwood base.
Klopp confirmed that the England international will miss Sunday’s visit of West Ham to Anfield as well as the trip to Middlesbrough next Wednesday.
But the Liverpool manager remains hopeful that Sturridge can make his comeback during the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on December 19.
He said: “I have no idea when he will be back.
“Until now he didn’t train. He wasn’t 100 per cent yesterday but he will be on the pitch today but that means starting the work. He won’t be with the team.
“It is not important what the name of the player is or the quality of the player, you have to wait until they are back.
“Sometimes you have to wait a little bit longer because you decide then what we had in the past and a few days’ training would be nice before we start them again.
“I can’t make pressure with making timelines. Hopefully he will be back as quick as possible but at this moment I have no idea.
“He is not in training with the team at the moment so we don’t have to think about him for the team with West Ham and Middlesbrough but maybe then.
“What’s the game after Middlesbrough? Everton? That would be nice but I have no idea.”