Football
Kevin Palmer 9y

Brendan Rodgers confident that England won't call up Daniel Sturridge

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers appears to be increasingly confident of winning his battle to keep his striker Daniel Sturridge out of the England squad for next week's Euro 2016 qualifiers against San Mario and Estonia.

Sturridge has not played for Liverpool since picking up an injury while training with England last month, with Rodgers suggesting he was disappointed with the England medical staff for failing to adhere to the medical advice Liverpool had offered the FA medical team over the 25-year-old forward.

It seemed as if Rodgers was on a collision course with England manager Roy Hodgson when he suggested Sturridge was not fit to play for his country even if he makes a return to the Liverpool side in the Premier League this weekend.

Yet Rodgers revealed in his post-match media conference following his side's 1-0 Champions League defeat against Basel that an agreement had been reached with the England hierarchy over Sturridge's participation in the Euro 2016 qualifiers.

"I spoke to Roy today. I am not sure if Daniel will be fit for the weekend so I think at this moment he won't be in the squad," said Rodgers.

"I think over the next couple of weeks Daniel has to get up to speed and hopefully after the international break he will be able to play for us, which is the priority."

If Hodgson still decides to call up Sturridge, Liverpool would have no option other than to allow the striker to meet up with the England squad, despite their concerns over his fitness levels.

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