Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers could be on a collision course with England boss Roy Hodgson after revealing that Daniel Sturridge will not be fit for the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers.
Sturridge is currently out of action due to a thigh strain and has missed the Reds’ last five games in all competitions, and he will not feature for the Merseysiders when they take on Basel in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Anfield club kicked off this season’s elite European competition with a last-gasp 2-1 win over Ludogorets but face a tricky test in Switzerland, with the hosts priced at 3.50 to take the points and Liverpool on offer at 2.13.
It has been a tough start to the domestic campaign for the north-west club after the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona and Rodgers has hinted that he might risk Sturridge in the weekend’s Premier League fixture with West Brom as they are desperate for the points.
But he has made it clear that the former Chelsea man will not be available for the international games against San Marino on October 9 and the subsequent trip to Estonia three days later.
“He won’t be fit to play for England whether he’s available for the weekend or not,” said the Northern Irishman. “I don’t think he’s fit to play for England.”
The manager’s words will not be well received by Hodgson, who will want his best players available for the double-header despite the relative weakness of the opposition.
England won the first match in their Group E qualifying group against Switzerland last month and would expect to come away with six points from their next two matches with or without Sturridge.
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