THIGH INJURY RULES OUT DANIEL STURRIDGE; FEARS IT COULD BE LONG TERM
Daniel Sturridge has been ruled out of England’s first Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland on Monday with a thigh injury that could see him out of action for two or three weeks.
Sturridge, who had been one of England’s better players against Norway at Wembley on Wednesday, took to Twitter to share his bad news.
“Heartbroken soul right now believe me. Hopefully be back soon fighting fit for LFC. Nothing worse than being injured. My head’s gone…” explained an emotional Sturridge.
England manager Roy Hodgson had earlier been emotional himself when reacting to media questioning about their poor first half when England managed just two shots on target against Norway.
An FA spokesman confirmed that Sturridge had undergone a scan and would return to Liverpool for treatment, missing the forthcoming Switzerland match.
Liverpool, already shorn of the attacking threat of Luis Suarez after he moved to Barcelona earlier in the summer, could now be without Sturridge for games against Aston Villa and a Champions League tie against Ludgorets although early reports had suggested that Sturridge could be missing for months.
Sturridge’s injury may provide a chance up front for ex-Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck, who joined Arsenal just before the summer transfer window closed, as England manager Roy Hodgson is unlikely to call up any replacements.
Welbeck could provide a hard-working focal point to the England attack if Rooney is deployed in a slightly deeper role, while an otherwise unchanged England side, with Gary Cahill expected to be fit following an ankle problem.
With Switzerland’s central defence seen as vulnerable during the World Cup, Hodgson will be keen to continue to front-load the England attack and test their hosts on Monday night.
Swiss playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri is expected to provide much of the creativity for Switzerland from midfield and will need to be shackled effectively by Jordan Henderson and Jack Wilshere if England remain otherwise unchanged.