Publications
Partners
London - England manager Roy Hodgson must decide whether to risk a row with Liverpool by selecting Daniel Sturridge against the wishes of the Premier League club.
Sturridge, 25, has missed five matches since suffering a thigh strain while on England duty last month and was not selected for Liverpool's Champions League match away to Basel on Wednesday.
However, the forward could return against West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Saturday, a move which could pave the way for an England call-up for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers with San Marino and Estonia.
But Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted Sturridge should not be considered by Hodgson on this occasion
"He won't be fit to play for England whether he's available for the weekend or not," Rodgers said.
"We're hoping he can develop over the next 48 hours to be in a position to train with the team on Thursday and maybe be available for the squad on Saturday.
"But if we're talking about players being picked for international duty then they need to be fit and play and Daniel certainly won't be fit."
Hodgson is due to announce his squad for this month's matches on Thursday, with the two qualifiers the only chance England captain Wayne Rooney has to play this month.
The 28-year-old will not feature for Manchester United again until November, having received a straight red card and three-match ban for recklessly kicking out at Stewart Downing in Saturday's 2-1 win over West Ham.
"Obviously we got away with it by getting the win, but I am really gutted that I am going to be missing the next three games," Rooney said. "It is hard to take and I am obviously gutted.
"It helps that the England games are coming up, and the training here is really good," the forward added.
"It is tough and it is getting my fitness up there, so I just have to make sure I train well and be ready for when I come back."
