Daniel Sturridge is out for at least another month with his hamstring injury.
The news comes as a dreadful blow to rock-bottom West Bromwich who hoped the on-loan Liverpool striker would blast them out of the Premier League drop zone.
Instead, the 28-year-old is struggling with the same problems that have blighted him for much of his career as he is sidelined yet again.
Sturridge limped off after just four minutes in his third game for Alan Pardew’s side away at Chelsea.
Part of the reasoning behind his January move was for the former Chelsea and Manchester City player to regain full fitness and form.
The goal was to help save West Brom from relegation and potentially fight for a place in the England squad for the World Cup in Russia this summer.
As it is the Baggies remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table with just 20 points from their 28 games and Sturridge’s England hopes look dim and distant.
CLAIM YOUR FREE £20 BET Sun Bets have this brilliant offer when you sign up and bet a fiver
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp won’t be pleased either.
He wanted to see the loanee flourish and return to Anfield in the summer to fight for a more prominent role next season having played regular football and proven his worth.
But Sturridge’s confidence will be further eroded after managing just 17 appearances in all competitions so far this season.
And given his latest injury problems and it remains to be seen if he is capable of overcoming them and playing a consistent role in the future.
West Brom originally thought the hitman would be out for two weeks, but no such luck.
💰How to win £1MILLION with Sun Six💰
SUN SIX is the new predictor game where you can win £1million – just by correctly picking the results of six games.
Here is how to get your mitts on the million:
- Make your picks – predict the scores from these six games
- Enter your details – quickly sign up to Sun Bets so we can contact you
- Score £1m – Watch the scores roll in and you can win £1m
Top pundits IAN WRIGHT and DANNY HIGGINBOTHAM have made their picks for this week if you need a steer.
And remember, you can claim a free £30 bet with Sun Bets when you sign up put a tenner on this weekend’s football here.
They find themselves seven points adrift from safety and are odds-on to go down, having scored only 21 league goals.
READ MORE:
- How Brazil’s misfit midfield transformed them into World Cup favourites
- 11 stats, facts and quirks that will make you think very differently about the Premier League this season
- QUIZ: Can you name the last 10 players to score for England?
Pardew, meanwhile, has only won seven of his last 54 games as a manager in the Premier League and could be unceremoniously ousted from the Hawthorns if Albion lose at Watford on Saturday.
Last weekend Huddersfield dealt them a huge blow by picking up a 2-1 away win.