Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan's injury situation can be compared to Daniel Sturridge's even if they differ slightly, according to manager Jurgen Klopp.
Prior to his January comeback, Flanagan had spent 19 months on the sidelines due to a knee injury.
The 23-year-old, who has one England cap, last played for the Anfield club when he skippered his side at Southampton in March 2014.
After Flanagan featured in the under-21 side's 2-1 victory against Norwich City on Monday, Klopp referenced Sturridge's recent lay-off and stated the right-back had to work more to play regular first-team football.
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"Flanno is in a situation that [means] he cannot train all the time," he told a news conference. "When you're out for this long period, you can't train all the time and you can't build a base, that's all.
"It's a little bit similar, yet a different story, to what I said about Sturridge with the long injury breaks.
"If we want to help him, we need to work on his physical resistance so that he is ready for more than one game and then two or three days' recovery or something."
Since making his debut as an 18-year-old against Manchester City in April 2011, Flanagan has made 48 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions,
His best season came in 2013-14, when his 25 appearances earned him a place on Roy Hodgson's standby list for the 2014 World Cup.
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