Brendan Rodgers has told Roy Hodgson that Daniel Sturridge will not be fit for the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers, even if the striker recovers from a thigh injury in time to face West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
Sturridge suffered a thigh injury while in training with England last month and he is likely to miss the Champions League tie with Basle on Wednesday.
Roy Hodgson has every right to select Sturridge when he names his squad tomorrow, but should he do so, the England manager would go against the wishes of Rodgers, who has earlier maintained that the injury sustained during England duty was avoidable.
Rodgers said as quoted by The Guardian:
“Daniel won’t be fit. Whether he is available for the weekend or not, he won’t be fit. We are hoping he can develop over the next 24 hours and train with the team on Thursday and be available for some involvement and be in the squad on Saturday,”
But if you are talking about players’ availability [for England], then they need to be fit to play and Daniel will not be fit to play.”
Sturridge’s absence means Mario Balotelli is likely to lead the Liverpool attack again. Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho is also unavailable because of a thigh strain suffered in training. The France international was seen walking out of Anfield prior to the Merseyside derby and been disciplined for his behaviour, though Rodgers said his punishment will remain in-house.
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