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Hodgson and Rodgers spoke on Wednesday. Here's a file photo of them at dinner in tuxes. EMPICS Sport
Dan Plan

Liverpool have won the 'club v country' battle over Daniel Sturridge

England boss Roy Hodgson due to announce squad to face San Marino and Estonia later today.

DANIEL STURRIDGE WILL not join up with England for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers after England manager Roy Hodgson and Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers reached an agreement over the striker’s fitness.

It had been thought Hodgson might force the issue and select Sturridge but Rodgers said after Wednesday’s disappointing 1-0 Champions League defeat to Basel, in Switzerland, he had spoken with the England coach and resolved the problem.

“I spoke to Roy today and the agreement will be that he will not meet up with England – we are not sure if Danny will be fit for the weekend,” said Rodgers.

“For this moment he will not be in the squad and for now for Daniel it’s about getting up to speed and being ready to play for us.”

Sturridge, 25, has missed five matches since suffering a thigh strain while on England duty last month and was not selected for the Basel game.

Hodgson is due to announce his squad for this month’s matches with San Marino and Estonia on Thursday, with the two qualifiers the only chance England captain Wayne Rooney has to play this month.

The 28-year-old will not feature for Manchester United again until November, having received a straight red card and three-match ban for recklessly kicking out at Stewart Downing in Saturday’s 2-1 win over West Ham.

“Obviously we got away with it by getting the win, but I am really gutted that I am going to be missing the next three games,” Rooney said. “It is hard to take and I am obviously gutted.

“It helps that the England games are coming up, and the training here is really good,” the forward added.

“It is tough and it is getting my fitness up there, so I just have to make sure I train well and be ready for when I come back.”

- © AFP, 2014

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