London: Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge could be closing in on a return to action after training alongside the first team for the first time since undergoing hip surgery in the United States in May.
The 25-year-old scored five goals in just 18 appearances for the Merseyside club in an injury-hit campaign last season with his last appearance coming in a 1-0 FA Cup win at Blackburn Rovers on April 8.
Sturridge went under the knife in New York to fix an issue believed to be behind the various muscle problems he suffered last term but looked to be moving well when he was put through his paces at Melwood on Thursday.
Meanwhile, midfielder Lazar Markovic appears set to join Turkish side Fenerbachce on a season-long loan, according to British media reports, with the clubs said to have agreed terms for the 21-year-old.
The Serbia international joined Liverpool from Benfica for a reported 20 million pounds ($31 million) last season but made just 11 league starts as he struggled to cope with the physical nature of the Premier League.
He has not featured in the squad for any of Liverpool`s three matches this season.
Markovic will become the fourth player to leave Anfield this summer should the deal go through, following the departures of Rickie Lambert, Javier Manquillo and Mario Balotelli.
Unlike Balotelli, however, Markovic could still feature in manager Brendan Rodgers` long-term plans as the loan agreement does not contain a clause to make the move a permanent one, the reports added.
