Daniel Sturridge: West Brom striker should return in two weeks - Alan Pardew
- Published
Daniel Sturridge last scored a Premier League goal while playing for Liverpool against Huddersfield on 28 October
West Brom manager Alan Pardew hopes Daniel Sturridge will be fit within two weeks after he limped off three minutes into Monday's 3-0 defeat at Chelsea.
Sturridge, who joined the Baggies on loan from Liverpool last month, was substituted after an innocuous chase for possession with Cesar Azpilicueta.
Pardew said the injury was "probably a bigger blow" than the defeat in striker Sturridge's third appearance.
"We need him up and running as it's goals we've struggled with," he said.
"He felt his hamstring after a 60m sprint in the first moments of the game. We'll have to nurse him. He won't play next week but hopefully the week after."
Pardew's side, who are bottom of the table - seven points from safety, missed two chances when trailing 1-0 against the champions and now have just one win in 25 Premier League games.
After Saturday's FA Cup visit of Southampton, they meet relegation rivals Huddersfield on 24 February, and more sides around them in the weeks to follow.
"There have been so many drawn games we should have won, and losing Daniel Sturridge after three minutes was a blow in itself," said Pardew.
"If we can get two or three wins in our next group of games we can put pressure on the other teams."
Sturridge - 31 injuries since 2013
Since he joined Liverpool from Chelsea in January 2013, Sturridge has spent much of his career on the sidelines.
Physioroom.com, external tracks injuries to Premier League players and, according to its statistics, this is the 31st occasion he has been injured since then.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said in November 2015 after taking over at Anfield that Sturridge needs to "learn what is serious pain and what is only pain".
Sturridge had moved to The Hawthorns in the hope of reviving his career after he found first-team opportunities at Liverpool limited this season.
Pardew had previously spoken of giving Sturridge "protection" in training, external to ensure he remained fit and had a chance to stake a claim to be part of England's squad for the World Cup.
The former Manchester City and Chelsea striker made his debut for West Brom as a 78th-minute substitute in their 3-0 defeat by Manchester City on 31 January.
He then played 62 minutes of Albion's 3-2 home defeat by Southampton on his first start for the club, but lasted just three minutes against Chelsea.