Brendan Rodgers expects England to select Daniel Sturridge for their forthcoming European Championship qualifiers but has insisted the Liverpool striker is not fit enough to start against both Estonia and Lithuania.
Roy Hodgson announces his squad for the pair of October fixtures on Thursday, with Sturridge available for an international for the first time in more than a year after two Premier League starts for Liverpool.
The 26-year-old scored twice in Saturday’s 3-2 win over Aston Villa but is not in Rodgers’s plans for the Europa League tie against Sion on Thursday. The manager says he is anxious “we don’t break him at this stage”.
Sturridge has not played for England since the 1-0 friendly win over Norway last September. The succession of injury problems that the striker suffered began with a thigh strain in England training after that game, prompting Rodgers to criticise Hodgson’s handling of Sturridge.
But the Liverpool manager insists he has no problem with the striker making an immediate return to the England camp. “I haven’t spoken with the FA but I wouldn’t have any concern about him being selected,” said Rodgers.
“Daniel is back in the fold now and he is obviously one of the top English strikers. If he is back fit and performing I would expect him to be chosen for the national team. But at this moment in time it is about making sure he is fit and ready for Liverpool.”
England host Estonia next Friday before facing Lithuania away the following Monday. Asked whether Sturridge could feature in two games in four days, the Liverpool manager replied: “Not at the moment, no.
“The guys with England are intelligent enough. I am sure they understand and will have a little conversation before they meet up. I don’t speak so much with international managers. When players go away, I let them deal with them. They are highly qualified professionals who work at that level.
“But, certainly with Daniel’s case, it is worth me noting to the FA about where he is at in this period of his fitness. He is just coming back and Roy and his staff are intelligent enough to see that. I’m sure him being in the squad, they will manage it accordingly.”
As against Bordeaux in the first group game Rodgers will not consider Sturridge against Sion and will select “young players and those on the fringes of the team who aren’t getting a game” as he prioritises Sunday’s Merseyside derby at Everton.
The Liverpool manager said: “Daniel has worked very, very hard and he has got back ahead of schedule. We have just got to make sure that we don’t break him at this stage.
“He is recovering from the game at the weekend and he is still building himself towards fitness. He won’t be involved in the game and that will keep him fresh.”
Liverpool (3-4-1-2, probable): Mignolet; Gomez, Touré, Sakho; Ibe, Rossiter, Allen, Moreno; Lallana; Origi, Ings.
FC Sion (4-1-4-1, probable): Vanins; Zverotic, Lacroix, Ziegler, Pa Modou; Salatic; Assifuah, Kouassi, Fernandes, Carlitos; Konaté.
Referee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia)
