Former England star insists: ‘If Sturridge is fit to play for Liverpool, he is fit to play for his country’

Ray Wilkins insists Roy Hodgson has every right to pick Daniel Sturridge for England’s upcoming European Championship qualifiers if he plays for Liverpool this weekend.

Sturridge has been sidelined since injuring his thigh the last time he was on international duty at the start of September.

He is set to return for Liverpool against West Brom this weekend but his club boss Brendan Rodgers, who blamed England for the player’s injury, wants the 25-year-old left out of his country’s double-header against San Marino on October 9 and Estonia three days later.

According to Wilkins, however, Rodgers has no right to demand Hodgson does not select Sturridge.

Speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, the ex-England star said: “If Sturridge does play on Saturday, then why shouldn’t he be called up to play in the national side?

“It is Roy’s prerogative to be able to use the players. Whether it is because of the incident he had in the last gathering, I have no idea, but, surely if he is fit enough to play for his club, he is fit enough to play for his country.”