Brendan Rodgers will stop Daniel Sturridge from playing in England's October Euro 2016 qualifiers, but has not ruled out the possibility of the striker turning out for Liverpool at the weekend.
The Reds manager has told reporters that the 25-year-old will not be available for the matches against San Marino and Estonia, despite the fact that he might take part in Liverpool's game against West Bromwich Albion at Anfield on Saturday.
"Daniel won't be fit. Whether he is available for the weekend or not, he won't be fit," the Northern Irishman is quoted as saying by The Guardian.
"We are hoping he can develop over the next 24 hours and train with the team on Thursday and be available for some involvement and be in the squad on Saturday. But if you are talking about players' availability [for England], then they need to be fit to play and Daniel will not be fit to play.
"We have good dialogue and he knows he can call and speak about any of the players. Hopefully [Roy Hodgson] will have found anything I have ever said about the England players working with Liverpool to be helpful. My focus is on protecting the Liverpool players and at this moment in time my focus is on getting him fit for Liverpool."
Sturridge will not take part in Liverpool's Champions League trip to Basel on Wednesday, the sixth game he has missed since injuring his thigh during an England training session.
Phil Archbold
