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Brendan Rodgers admits Daniel Sturridge is devastated after his latest injury setback.

And the Liverpool boss has called on the likes of Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli to step up to the plate in the striker's absence.

Sturridge broke down with another thigh strain in training earlier this week, and is now set to be sidelined until the New Year.

The 24-year-old has not played since August due to a number of problems, and Rodgers says that while Liverpool will conduct a full investigation into Sturridge's ongoing injury troubles, the player himself is struggling to take in this latest blow.

Rodgers said: “He's a player that doesn't want to be out for this length of time. The last time he played was August, and with his ability and qualities, he wants to be playing football.

“I think probably now is the time for him to go away and for us as a football club to see what we can do to get him onto the pitch more consistently.

“He is world class talent, but he will only fulfil that if he is playing games. But there is nobody who wants that more than Daniel. He wants to be working and he wants to be playing.

“I spoke to him again this morning at length, and he's as down as I've ever seen anyone in terms of not being able to help the team.

“He will go away, into the New Year, with the medics and everyone at the club, to hopefully find the answers that will allow him to perform over a consistent period of time.

Rodgers added: “The England injury was one of a number of injuries. This is over a period of time, this isn't just over the last six or seven months. As I said, I think he's had nine on the same thigh over the years.

“We will look across his time as a player, to see where we can find ways to get him out playing.

“He's a joy to work with, a brilliant young man and there is no-one more frustrated than him at this moment in time.”

With Sturridge now likely to miss at least another dozen Reds games, Rodgers will be forced to place his attacking faith in a trio of Balotelli, Lambert and Fabio Borini, none of whom have managed a Premier League goal between them this season.

Balotelli's hamstring injury will be assessed before Sunday's trip to Crystal Palace, but Rodgers is ready to place his faith in the likes of the Italian and the much-maligned Lambert.

He said: “I've got great trust with the players that I work with. I'd be a lot more worried if I didn't see them every day, or if I saw them moping around.

“We haven't had a great season thus far, but we are still in competitions, and I believe as the season goes on that we will get better.

“And these players are still adapting, but I've seen their growth and their development, and I have got every faith.

“A lot of the focus this season has been on the players that are injured, and a player that is no longer here. I need to ensure my time is devoted to the players that are fit and available, to make sure that we get the results.

“The likes of Rickie, he will get an opportunity. We've got a really exciting period of games coming up, and he will feature in those heavily. “

Rodgers, meanwhile, publicly played down suggestions Liverpool could bring forward Divock Origi's move to Anfield from Lille.

“I don't think there's any (chance),” he said. “The young player we signed in the summer, it was always on the understanding that he had to stay at Lille.

“I've seen reports of him maybe coming back early, but that was never the case. One of the reasons we were actually able to sign the player was that he would have to stay at Lille for this season.

“The deal was in place quite clearly and simply, that we would get him for next season, and as far as I am concerned that is still the case.”