adminROY HODGSON has bowed to the demands of Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers by leaving his striker Daniel Sturridge out of the England squad.
Sturridge is in contention to play for Liverpool against West Bromwich Albion tomorrow after a month-long thigh injury lay-off, but he has been left out of Hodgson’s 21-strong party for England’s forthcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers against San Marino and Estonia.
The Liverpool manager insisted on Wednesday that the 25-year-old has still not fully recovered from the injury, which he sustained on international duty last month, and his name was absent from the squad list released by the Football Association at Wembley yesterday afternoon.
Hodgson told a press conference how disappointed he was that Sturridge was not in a position to join up with the squad, but he insisted there have been no problems between club and country over his potential inclusion.
“That’s a great blow for us and it’s been a big blow for Liverpool, of course, and it will continue to be,” he said.
“It’s also a blow for the player because he was very anxious to be a part of these two games, but unfortunately injuries happen and we all accept it so there are no problems or conflict there at all.”
When asked if it would have been at all possible for Sturridge to train with the squad and feature against Estonia on October 12, Hodgson said it was best for the player to focus on improving his overall fitness.
He said: “No, he’s not played for Liverpool at all since picking up the injury with us. If he was to get fitter during the week which starts on Monday, then he’s still got a lot of work to do to bring himself up to speed to be able to play for Liverpool in their games.” — The Guardian
Online Reporter