Raheem Sterling Injury: Updates on Liverpool Star's Foot and Return

Liverpool suffered a major blow after learning Raheem Sterling was absent for the Reds' Premier League clash with Tottenham on Feb. 10 due to a foot injury. However, he was able to return on Feb. 22.

Continue for updates.

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Sterling Returns vs. Southampton

Sunday, Feb. 22

Sterling was back in Liverpool's starting lineup against Southampton, the club announced.

On Feb. 18, Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail first reported when fans could expect to see Sterling return to game action:

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will make a late decision on whether to play Raheem Sterling in Thursday’s Europa League clash against Besiktas.

The England forward has missed the club’s past two matches with a foot injury but he looks set to make a return in the coming days, either on Thursday at Anfield or in the showdown away to Southampton on Sunday.

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Sterling Was 'Gutted' He Missed Tottenham Clash

Thursday, Feb. 12

"We're monitoring Raheem," said assistant manager Colin Pascoe, per LiverpoolFC.com. "He was gutted he missed the game the other night as he wasn't available. We're just monitoring him and seeing how he is."

The club revealed Sterling would not play after announcing the starting lineup prior to Tuesday's match, though BBC's Ben Smith first reported that Sterling would miss the contest.

The Reds winger picked up the injury against Everton on Feb. 7, according to Smith.

Sterling played a prominent part in that rise and followed up with a bright beginning to his 2014-15 campaign. He had come into his own in recent months, developing a scoring touch that had seen the Reds surge up the table in recent weeks.

Sterling had built a healthy anticipation around his 2014-15 campaign following a bright pre-season, and in the absence of an injured Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool have grown to depend upon the winger for offensive input.

Sterling's rising goal threat has also become a bigger part of his appeal, too. The club invested heavily in its wide department over the summer, and Sterling's injury only highlighted that acquiring such stellar cover in those areas was a well-placed use of funds.

However, as Sterling's Liverpool seniority has evolved, so too has his value in other positions, most notably rising to prominence as a more central attacking asset in the past six months.