Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge says he does not blame England head coach Roy Hodgson for his injury problems that sidelined him for almost five months this season.
The 25-year-old striker initially picked up thigh while training with England in September. Although Sturridge was expected to make a comeback on 16 October, he got ruled out for a further three weeks after suffering another injury during a training session at Melwood Park.
Sturridge was then expected to return to action during Liverpool's clash against Crystal Palace on Sunday, but he has been sidelined again due to a tear in his thigh muscle.
Finally the former Manchester City striker returned to full fitness in January after spending a month in a rehabilitation centre in USA.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers blamed Hodgson for Sturridge's injury, insisting that the striker was over-trained.
But Sturridge insists that his injury problems was no one's fault and he would never blame Hodgson.
"I would never blame him [Hodgson] for this. Never," said Sturridge, according to the Daily Mail. Or any of the staff - it was just an unfortunate incident. I have got so much respect and admiration for him and his set-up. The relationship is very, very good."
"My relationship with the England manager is top class. No worries at all. We speak via text. We speak to each other, we keep in touch. Throughout my injury, he kept in touch."
The former Chelsea striker also says he loves playing for England, insisting that he does not "dwell" on the past.
"Regardless of what happened in the past, I love playing for England," added the England striker. "That situation occurred and it's in the past. I don't want to dwell on it. People pick injuries up and they are unfortunate. It just so happened I got injured that day. It's life. People get injured sometimes. It is what it is."
Sturridge, who is now fully fit, has again managed to find his form as he has already netted three goals since his return.
And the striker says that he is "grateful to God" for helping him through such a tough period in his career.
"I am grateful to God for everything that I have had in the past and everything I will have in the future," he told Liverpool's official website.
"You have setbacks, you have comebacks, you have glories, you don't have glories. Not everything is going to be rosy and sweet all the time. There are going to be times in your life when you go through certain situations that test your character, test your courage, test your faith, test your self-belief, test everything."
"There is no doubt in my mind. I believe in myself, I believe in God, I have faith, I have faith in my abilities. I have no worries about anything. I know that I will come back to scoring goals regularly and doing what I love, playing every game."
