Daniel Sturridge to miss England double header

Daniel Sturridge has withdrawn from the England squad due to injury and will now miss the teams double header this week.

Sturridge has joined Liverpool team-mate Adam Lallana in withdrawing from the squad, announced the FA.

Sturridge joined the rest of the squad in Burton on Monday but has now returned home after being ruled out of the European Qualifier against Lithuania and the friendly with Italy.

The 25-year-old had been hoping to make his first England appearance since the win over Norway last September when he suffered the first of a string of injuries that kept him out until the end of January.

“Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has left the England squad and returned home to his club on Monday evening,” confirmed the FA in a statement.

“This follows a scan on an injury that he sustained during Liverpool’s game against Manchester United on Sunday.

“The England medical team took the decision on Monday evening, having assessed Daniel following the squad’s arrival at St. George’s Park on Monday afternoon.”

Sturridge, who scored against United, was reported to have been suffering with a hip injury and his absence increases the likelihood of Tottenham’s Harry Kane playing a significant role after receiving his first call-up on Thursday.

Keeper Fraser Forster and full-back Luke Shaw have already withdrawn from the squad, with Rob Green, Jack Butland and Danny Rose earning a call in their place.

England will face Lithuania in front of a 90,000 sell-out crowd at Wembley on Friday and play Italy in a friendly in Turin four days later.