Pearce set to make Sturridge call
Reuters - Thursday 19 July 2012, 16:06
Team GB coach Stuart
Pearce will make a final call on the fitness of Daniel Sturridge
after his team's friendly against Brazil on Friday as the
Chelsea forward continues to recover from viral meningitis.
The 22-year-old was admitted to hospital at the start of the
month and is now in a race against time to be fit for the
Olympic football tournament that begins next week.
He has started training again and Pearce hopes he will be
fit for the opening game against Senegal at Old Trafford next
Thursday.
"He looks very good," Pearce told reporters at
Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium on Thursday.
"Obviously, we
hope he plays some part of the game on Friday, and we will make
a final judgement call at that stage.
"He has done everything we have asked of him OK, but he
has been blowing a bit at times."
The medal credentials of Pearce's team are likely to be
scrutinised against Olympic favourites Brazil.
"The game against Brazil will tell us quite a bit from a
physical point of view," he said.