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Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is set to miss another six weeks with the thigh injury he suffered during a club training session on Tuesday. Sturridge, 25, is unlikely to play again until the New Year after scan results confirmed the extent of the problem, sources have told ESPN FC. The England international has suffered a grade two thigh strain, his third injury setback of the season. Liverpool have 11 matches in all competitions between now and New Year's Day, and the forward is expected to miss all of them. A statement on Liverpool's official website confirmed Sturridge's injury, although it did not state how long he would be out for. The statement read: "Liverpool Football Club today confirmed scans have revealed Daniel Sturridge has sustained a new thigh injury. "The player will remain unavailable for selection but will be monitored and assessed during his recovery." Sturridge's latest injury has come as a major setback to Liverpool, as he had been days away from making a long-awaited comeback. Reds manager Brendan Rodgers had pencilled him in to play a part in Sunday's Premier League match at Crystal Palace. The striker has not played for Liverpool since August, and has not featured in any game since playing 89 minutes for England in a 1-0 friendly win over Norway on Sept. 3. He suffered a thigh injury during an England practice session two days later, leading Rodgers to claim that national team boss Roy Hodgson had been over-training the player. Sturridge was close to a comeback when he suffered a calf injury while training with his club on Oct. 16. His new injury is not related to the one he suffered with England, but still leaves Rodgers with a major headache. Without him, Liverpool have failed to find the form that carried them to a runners-up finish in last season's Premier League. Rodgers' side have slumped to 11th place and are facing a group-stage elimination from the Champions League, having won just five out of the 14 matches that Sturridge has missed across all competitions. Liverpool have managed only 14 goals in 11 league games this season -- half as many as leaders Chelsea. None of the club's other recognised strikers -- Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini -- have scored a league goal this season.
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