STURRIDGE MISSES ENGLAND’S TRAINING

Liverpool forward, Daniel Sturridge missed the team’s training ahead the clash with Australia. His absence brings his fitness into question ahead of Euro 2016 billed for next month. Striker Marcus Rashford is set to start England’s Euro 2016 warm-up match against Australia in his place, according to reports.

Sturridge, 26, who did not play in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Turkey, was sidelined with an unspecified knock.

The Liverpool forward has had an injury-hit season for his club. Friday’s game is the last before boss Roy Hodgson trims three players from his provisional 26-man Euro 2016 squad. BBC Sport senior football reporter Ian Dennis commented on the situation. He said:

“It is interesting because Sturridge is one of the players who Roy Hodgson said has a question mark over him. Rashford will play on Friday night. This raises the prospect of him maybe starting and does it then increase the chances of him going to Euro 2016? I expect Hodgson to be pressed on the fitness of Sturridge at his news conference on Thursday.”

Rashford, 18, scored eight goals in 18 appearances in his debut campaign for Manchester United. Sturridge, who has five goals in 17 England caps, finished as Liverpool’s top scorer this season with 13 goals, despite missing much of the campaign through injury.

The striker, along with Liverpool team-mates Adam Lallana, James Milner and Nathaniel Clyne, joined Hodgson’s squad on Monday after playing and scoring in the 3-1 Europa League final loss to Sevilla. England are one of the dark horses for the tournament, with Unibet offering odds of 8/1 on them winning outright.

Chelsea defender Gary Cahill, who had an injection in the days leading up to captaining England in the win over Turkey, also missed Wednesday’s session. Jamie Vardy, who scored the winner against Turkey, was the only other absentee after being given time off to get married. Leicester team-mate Danny Drinkwater was there for the ceremony but returned in time for training in Manchester, where Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson were involved as they looked to prove their fitness.