STURRIDGE OLYMPIC HOPES ALIVE

Posted on: Mon 16 Jul 2012

Daniel Sturridge took a step towards competing in the Olympics when he joined up with the Team GB squad on Monday, but his fitness is still being assessed.

The Chelsea striker has recovered from a bout of viral meningitis sufficiently to be restored to the 18-man squad when they returned from a training camp in Spain, however Team GB manager Stuart Pearce said:

'I have got to be 100 per cent sure in my mind that Daniel is fit enough and can see out a tournament.'

'There were certainly doubts because of the illness he had. Our fitness and conditioning people are having a look at him, to see how he will come through training. Chelsea's medical people are more than happy.'

The men's team play an Olympic warm-up game against Brazil on Friday in Middlesbrough with the first tournament game on Thursday 26 July. Ryan Bertrand is also in the squad.