The striker has been out of action with a thigh injury since England’s friendly against Norway but his manager is hopeful that he will be available to face the Reds’ city rivals

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that striker Daniel Sturridge could return for the Merseyside derby on September 27.

The England forward was ruled out for up to three weeks after returning from international duty with a thigh injury.

The Reds missed Sturridge badly in their home defeat to Aston Villa and barely coped without him as they scraped past Ludogorets in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old is sidelined for Saturday’s trip to West Ham but Rodgers hopes that he may be fit for the following Premier League match.

“Daniel is doing well and is out on the field doing some work,” the Northern Irishman told the Liverpool Echo.

“He should hopefully be back training at some point next week and will have a chance for the derby.”

Sturridge scored 21 goals in his first full Premier League campaign with Liverpool last season as Rodgers’s side finished second to Manchester City.