Michael Owen does not believe Daniel Sturridge can be criticised until there is more revealed about his injury problems.

The striker has played just seven times for Liverpool this season with a host of leg, groin and hip injuries the main reasons for his absence but the specific problem continues to be kept quiet by the club.

Sturridge managed an hour of action in Tuesday night's FA Cup fourth round replay loss to West Ham United in what was a huge step forward but still he cops the wrath of the general public and pundits alike.

Kop great Owen feels it is careless to chastise the 26-year-old too much but does believe it is time for Jurgen Klopp to be more transparent when addressing the ongoing situation which has prompted speculation that Sturridge could indeed leave Anfield at season's end.

"I find it hard to have a view until we find out what's wrong," he said.

"The club have not really said. Until we know exactly what problems he has had or has got, it is fuelling a lot of rumours.

"I wish we knew a bit more. We all get texts on our phones saying Sturridge has done this or that, but it is all people guessing.

"People are saying things that are potentially unfair. I have been injured before and if he is getting muscle injuries then I have every sympathy because they are debilitating. You cannot play on with muscle injuries; they just tear, tear and tear until they erupt. It is the worst thing ever.

"However, if he has joint pain – an ankle, a knee and a hip – it can be manageable. It is all about pain thresholds. We have not really been given they information so I do wince a little bit when I see people having a real go."