Cape Town - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has vowed to give striker Daniel Sturridge all the time he needs to regain his form after a slew of injuries in recent seasons.
Sturridge only manage 11 Premier League starts last term and also missed the opening game of this season with injury. He returned to action in the Reds' 2-0 loss to Burnley over the weekend, but his lack of match fitness was evident.
However, Klopp is a big fan of the England international and pledged to give him as much time as he needs to get back to his goal-scoring best.
"Daniel is still a very quick player but he's had a lot of injuries in the last few years and a few muscle issues - I have no idea how this exactly changes the mind of a player," the Liverpool manager said.
"He is still on the way back, but he is still and outstanding player, and even an outstanding player needs rhythm. Saturday was not the best game of football Daniel has ever played but, even in a game like this, he could have scored.
"I don't compare him with the younger Daniel Sturridge. He is a really good player with all you need, when he is fit. Obviously there is a bit I can do to help him but you have to accept as a manager that it is really rare you can say 100 percent what a player wants to hear.
"What I can say, to any player, is that those who stay in the race and work really hard will get the benefit. That is how it is. Sometimes it is a little bit harder, sometimes easier, but that is the same for all of us."