There were talks among Rangers fans when Cedric Itten left on loan for the Bundesliga that we may have left ourselves a little short up front.
Steven Gerrard can count on Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe and Fashion Sakala to lead the line on a regular basis, there is, of course, Jermain Defoe, if he is needed but the veteran striker has spent most of the season wearing his coaching gear.
If the gaffer did decide that he needs an extra body for cover though, there is a former target and indeed a former team-mate of his who is available and open to offers, according to a report in The Daily Mail.
Daniel Sturridge, on his birthday, has posted on social media that he is “fit as a fiddle” as he looks to find a club at the age of 32:
“Year 32. More motivated than I’ve ever been in my life to be successful. Older, wiser and fit as a fiddle. God is good.
‘Thanks everyone for the birthday messages. Means a lot.”
It’s no secret that Sturridge hasn’t been blessed with the most robust body in professional football, being without a club in 18-months, a warm weather pre-season training programme with Jordan Henderson and a trial with Real Mallorca not materialising into a deal.
No better feeling than scoring goals. Even in behind closed doors games like I played today, when I scored it felt amazing. Feeling sharper and sharper as the days go by. Can’t wait to play a proper game whenever the day comes and show the world my talents. God is good ❤️
— Daniel Sturridge (@DanielSturridge) September 5, 2021
There’s no doubting his ability as a finisher but, if he wants to return to playing, he has to be realistic about the sort of contract he would be offered given how many games he has missed in the last few years.
Sturridge would be perfect for the role that Defoe used to do, coming off the bench for the last 20 minutes to finish teams off or, in a tight game where we are dominating possession but struggling to put it to bed.
I wouldn’t want us to offer him silly money, but there would be no harm in looking at him on trial to see if he still has the quality that nearly fired Liverpool to the league title when Gerrard was skipper, if not, we still have Defoe – and w all know that he still has it.