It seems we may have dodged a bullet in missing out to West Brom for Liverpool loanee Daniel Sturridge last month, with the injury riddled striker being forced off with a hamstring injury after just 3 minutes during their 3-0 defeat at Chelsea last night.
Since signing at the Hawthorns, the 28-year-old has played 12 minutes in the 3-0 defeat at Man City, played 62 minutes (as a starter) in the 3-2 home defeat to Southampton, and last night managed just THREE minutes before going straight down the tunnel with what has been confirmed to be a hamstring injury.
Don’t get me wrong, a fit Daniel Sturridge would’ve been a brilliant signing for us, however this is a clear reminder that it would’ve been a huge risk to rely on a player who so regularly picks up knocks and strains that keep him out for weeks on end.
It was such an innocuous injury too. He slipped and lande, yet you could tell he knew straight away that something had gone and he couldn’t continue. This perhaps shows that we got away with one missing out on him in the end. When we’re at it (see Sunday) we play with an intensity that a player of his fragility just couldn’t cope with.
When Daniel Sturridge chooses #WBA ahead of #NUFC then gets injured after 3 minutes! pic.twitter.com/jpDCmjDSbd
— JJ Fletcher (@JJFletcher7) February 12, 2018
Just weeks ago it looked as though Daniel Sturridge was all set for a loan move to Tyneside, however it quickly became known that Alan Pardew’s West Brom had beat us to the punch.
The England international preferred a move back to the Midlands, despite being expected to travel to the North-East for a medical, leaving us NUFC fans left to wonder what could have been given our desperate need for a striker at the time.
He may be a dangerous striker with a lot going for him and sharpshooter in front of goal, but he would’ve had no influence on our push for promotion from the injury table.
I feel for the lad (to an extent) as he’s a gifted player who isn’t getting much luck, but 31 separate injuries in less than 5 years (some reoccurring) really is a shocking stat.
Sturridge rejecting Newcastle could be a blessing.. imagine we got him and not slimani and he off injured after 3 mins.. man's made of wheatabix #Nufc #Lfc
— Mikie (@mikiebehan) February 12, 2018
Is it wrong for me to have a wry grin on my face at the news of Sturridge going off inured?
Oh the irony of it all!
Oh well… It saves him from being fully Pardewed for a few weeks then. #NUFC— Paul Nicholson (@PaulNic_Journo) February 12, 2018
The Sturridge or Slimani question just answered #nufc
— Casey Wong (@CaseyWongSports) February 12, 2018
#NUFC Sturridge pic.twitter.com/f86h0Ekad0
— Notorious S.A.M (@SamChipperfield) February 12, 2018
