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Liverpool have been dealt a major blow with the news that Daniel Sturridge will miss the start of next season.

Boss Brendan Rodgers has been informed that the injury-plagued Reds striker will be sidelined for around four months after undergoing hip surgery in New York this week.

It means Sturridge, who isn’t expected to be back in full training at Melwood until early September, will sit out at least the opening month of the 2015/16 campaign.

Despite the length of Sturridge’s rehabilitation, Liverpool’s medical staff have been buoyed by the results of the thorough assessment carried out in the wake of the England international’s operation on Tuesday.

They believe world-renowned surgeon Dr Bryan T Kelly has identified and addressed the troublesome issue with his hip which may also be linked to some of the thigh and calf muscle injuries which have dogged Sturridge throughout this season.

Liverpool are confident the surgery will benefit the 25-year-old in the long-term as he looks to get back to the heights he hit when he plundered 24 goals last term.

It will be the third successive year since his £12million move from Chelsea that Sturridge’s preparations for the new campaign have been wrecked by injury.

He missed virtually all of pre-season in 2013 after suffering ankle ligament damage on England duty and last summer he was sent home early from the Reds’ tour of America due to a hamstring strain.

Sturridge’s rehab means he will once again miss all the club’s warm-up matches, including the tour of the Far East and Australia. If the four-month time frame proves correct he will also be unavailable for at least the opening four league matches.

The 2015/16 Premier League season starts earlier than usual on August 8 in order to give England more time to prepare for the following summer’s European Championships.

Rodgers recently spoke about the need to strengthen his forward line during the upcoming transfer window and news of Sturridge’s prolonged absence makes that an even greater priority.

With Sturridge limited to just four goals in eight league starts, Liverpool have scored just 49 goals in 35 league games this season. A year ago that figure was 96.

Current strikers Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert are all expected to move on this summer.

Young Belgian frontman Divock Origi, who cost £10million last year, will arrive at Anfield following his season-long loan at Lille.

Liverpool are the front-runners to sign Danny Ings, who will leave Burnley when his contract expires this summer. The 22-year-old has scored nine goals for the Clarets this term and has attracted interest from clubs across Europe.

The Reds would have to pay Burnley a compensation fee which is likely to be set by a tribunal and could be anything from £3million to £5million,

With Origi and Ings to complement the returning Sturridge, Rodgers would still need a more established marksman at the highest level to ensure Liverpool are well equipped to push on after the disappointment of this season.