Garcia hopeful over Sturridge opener

Garcia hopeful Sturridge will be ready

Perth Glory coach Richard Garcia is hopeful new signing Daniel Sturridge will be able to play some part in the opening game of the season against Adelaide United.

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Glory pulled off a huge coup when getting Sturridge on board for the 2021/22 A-League season but he has yet to arrive in WA.

Fitness race

The former Liverpool and England striker has been keeping himself in good shape and recently declared that he is feeling fitter than ever.

However Glory will not be willing to take any risks on their new recruit and will see how he goes in the build up to the Adelaide game on 20th November.

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Even if he does not start the game, Glory will be keen to have him involved at some point.

"That's something for us to take a look at when he gets here, to make sure that his body is right," Garcia said.

"There’s no point rushing him back. We want to make sure we get him out on the park and keep him out on the park and get him to a place where he'll be successful for the whole season."

Family demands

Meanwhile Garcia says it is important that family members are allowed on away trips this season with Glory again set to have long stints on the road.

"Players who are happy off the park are going to be happy on the park," Garcia added. "That's a massive one for us, we want to make sure that players don't have to go through similar things they had to go through last year.

"We need the support, because mentally it can be challenging."

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