Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen has revealed that he has taken inspiration from his teammate Daniel Sturridge as he continues to recover from injury.
Allen has not featured for the Reds since limping out of the League Cup win against Notts County at the end of August with a hamstring problem, but he is expected to return to the squad for Liverpool's match against Newcastle United next weekend.
The 23-year-old admits that he is worried about how he will cope having spent so long on the sidelines, but cites Sturridge's impressive start to the campaign despite being injured throughout pre-season as proof that it is possible to get straight back into the swing of things.
"It's another worry you have when you have been out for a while - how is it going to affect your performances when you get out there? But you look at someone like Daniel Sturridge, he was worked so hard during his rehab to make sure he's in great shape getting back out there," Allen told the club's official website.
"You can see from how well he is doing that it's possible to get straight back into the swing of things. First and foremost, you wish you were playing - that's natural. But you see things from a different perspective and you appreciate the role everyone plays in the team. We've had such a great start to the season.
"It has been a pleasure to watch, at times I feel like a bit of a fan. Long may that continue and hopefully I can add to the already great performances we've had."
Liverpool are currently joint-top of the Premier League table, having won five of their opening seven matches.
Barney Corkhill
