You’d struggle to think of a player so talented whose career has been so plagued by injury.
Having seen his time at big clubs like Chelsea and Liverpool hampered by repeated spells on the sidelines, Daniel Sturridge was hopeful of securing a place in England’s World Cup squad with an impressive end to the season on loan at West Brom.
Sturridge joined the Baggies on loan last month and supporters prayed that the forward would strive at a club where there is significantly less pressure.
New manager Alan Pardew was very mindful of Sturridge’s history in the treatment room and vowed to “manage him carefully.”
“In the short term here he won’t be pushed in training, we will protect him and make sure he gets to the games,” Pardew said of Sturridge.
“He will slowly build his stamina over the games.”
Sturridge made his debut as a late substitute at Manchester City before he was handed his first West Brom start against Southampton last week, when he lasted just over an hour.
The 28-year-old started for Pardew’s side against Chelsea on Monday night but, unfortunately, suffered an injury just three minutes into the game.
Sturridge limped off the Stamford Bridge pitch nursing what appeared to be a hamstring injury and while, in the past, supporters might have mocked his track record with injuries, there was plenty of sympathy this time around.
Fans felt that the writing was on the wall for Sturridge and suggested that an early retirement was on the horizon for the unfortunate forward who simply seems to have no luck whatsoever.
https://twitter.com/GaryGw92/status/963144547663523846
https://twitter.com/JJ_Journo/status/963144029373325312
https://twitter.com/ry4n777/status/963143989393272832
Sturridge should just retire. Poor bloke pulls a hammy as soon as you look at him.
— 𝗦 𝗧 𝗨 (@_stuhamilton) February 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/rahull_cfc/status/963143431508852736
https://twitter.com/OseiwuoDehyie/status/963142913789235200
https://twitter.com/GrahBrown/status/963142055554899968
Sturridge should just retire at this point. 2 mins and hurt already smh feel it for him.
— CEO of Still Stacking Records (@203MarcLu) February 12, 2018
Sturridge needs to retire. Sadly.#lfc #CFCWBA
— Seb Ate (@Mrbaiti) February 12, 2018
