Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge pleased with his progress in bid to return from injury

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge says he is edging ever closer to full fitness ahead of the new season.

Sturridge, 25, endured an injury-hit 2014-15 season where he started just 12 games, missing the final month of the campaign to undergo surgery on a persistent hip problem.

Liverpool struggled in his absence and as a result, are on the lookout for another striker to add more firepower to their attack ahead of the new season.

Meanwhile, the England international is still undergoing rehabilitation and was not expected to be considered for a return to the first team until at least September.

But the former Manchester City and Chelsea striker says he is making quick progress, writing on his Instagram account: "All in gods hands. Training couldn't be going any better. Closer each day."

Sturridge started the first three games of last season before suffering an injury while on international duty. Thigh and hamstring problems ensured he did not play again until January and despite an initially bright return, he struggled for fitness for the remainder of his season.

In his absence last term, Liverpool's other forwards struggled to find the back of the net, with Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini contributing just eight goals between them in all competitions.

While Sturridge continues his recovery on Merseyside, Liverpool got their pre-season campaign off to a winning start with a 4-0 victory over Thai All-Stars in Bangkok on 14 July.

New signings Adam Bogdan, Joe Gomez and Danny Ings all started the match, with James Milner and Nathaniel Clyne coming on at half-time as Brendan Rodgers fielded a totally different XI in the second half.

Lazar Markovic and Mamadou Sakho gave the Reds a 2-0 lead before half-time before Adam Lallana added a third thanks to a sumptuous assist from Jordan Henderson. Divock Origi, who was signed by the club in the summer of 2014 but remained on loan with Lille last season, rounded off the win, heading home from a corner with four minutes remaining.