Daniel Sturridge return date unknown, says Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he does not know when Daniel Sturridge will be fit for first-team action.

The 26-year-old England striker returned to training this week having had surgery on a hip injury in May.

Speaking ahead of their huge clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday Night Football, Rodgers also confirmed that skipper Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana face late fitness tests.

"Daniel returned to training but there is no timeline on when he will play in games," Rodgers said.

"He looked really sharp in training, probably the best he's looked fitness-wise for 18 months, and it will be really good when he gets back. 

"But I can never say that he is over the worst of his injuries because I don't want to sit here and something happens in a couple of months' time. He has worked hard. He has joined in with the group and we will take it from there, day-by-day.

"And I am grateful for the work done in America, for our own medical team who have done a brilliant job to do everything they possibly could to get Daniel back to a level of fitness.

"Our tally of goals will increase as the team improves over the course of the season. Daniel coming back into the fold will help that."

Henderson has missed the last two Premier League games with a heel injury, while Lallana has been sidelined by a minor thigh problem he suffered in the win over Bournemouth.

Liverpool have since drawn 0-0 with Arsenal and lost 3-0 at home to West Ham, which Rodgers is hoping to put right against the club's bitter rivals this weekend. 

Rodgers said: "This is the biggest derby game in the history of this league. Winning a game like this can give you a psychological boost.

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"United is a huge club and will always be under scrutiny. The intensity of this fixture is still there. The players will feel it.

"It's a good opportunity for us on the back of a disappointment - a chance to put that behind us. We've had two tough games away from home and performed well in terms of our organisation.

"But this game comes on the back of the international break so we have had virtually no time to work with the players. Some only arrived back yesterday."

Manchester United v Liverpool is live on Sky Sports 1HD from 5.30pm on Saturday Night Football