Daniel Sturridge anxiety to join England squad intensify ahead of Euro 2016
Sports
By
The Standard
| May 31, 2016
Daniel Sturridge has passed the first test in his battle to prove his fitness ahead of Roy Hodgson's final 23-man squad announcement by taking part in England's latest training session.
Sportsmail revealed last Sunday that Sturridge was facing the prospect of a tense Euro 2016 audition after reporting to England duty with a calf injury.
Sturridge missed England's 2-1 win over Australia on Friday due to the problem, but is now back to fitness and trained with his international team-mates at Watford's London Colney training ground.
The 26-year-old faces an anxious wait to find out if he has been included in England's final 23-man squad, which has to be announced before midnight today.
At the same time, Southampton full back Ryan Bertrand did not take part in the early session, but the extent of his injury is not yet known.
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Roy Hodgson has to cut two more players from his squad with Danny Drinkwater, Andros Townsend and Ross Barkley also facing the prospect of being cut alongside the injured Fabian Delph.
Sturridge's recent absence has raised fears he could miss the tournament, but the forward could now secure a spot on the plane to France.
Coming through the session unscathed should be enough to convince Hodgson that the centre forward is fully fit. Doubts, though, will continue to linger over the merits of injury-prone Sturridge going to France.
Marcus Rashford's brilliant international debut against Australia on Friday propelled the Manchester United teenager to the forefront of Hodgson's thoughts.
The England manager could choose to take Sturridge and Rashford — and he has refused to dismiss the possibility of taking five strikers.
Such a move would result in Hodgson cutting three midfielders from the original 26-man squad he selected earlier this month.
One player who is a shoo-in to be included in Hodgson's final squad is Tottenham's Dele Alli.
The 20-year-old looked in a relaxed mood as he posed for a picture with Eric Dier, John Stones and Barkley. -DailyMail