England boss Roy Hodgson must be bracing himself for more bad news when his squad meet up ahead of the World Cup qualifiers with Moldova and Ukraine later on Monday.
Hodgson has already lost Manchester United pair Wayne Rooney and Phil Jones plus Liverpool's Glen Johnson following Sunday's game at Anfield.
But with Rooney out thanks to the gashed head he sustained in training on Saturday, Hodgson would have greeted news of Daniel Sturridge's groin strain with huge concern.
"We just need to assess it," said Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.
"We weren't sure he was going to make it but he put himself out there and we will see.
"We need to think of Liverpool first. The priority will be with Liverpool. If he is okay, then he will go."
If Sturridge does not make it, Hodgson will almost certainly need to make further additions as his only other strikers are Danny Welbeck, Jermain Defoe and Rickie Lambert, who made such a memorable international debut against Scotland last month but has no experience in competitive games at this level.
As it currently stands, the only replacement so far called for is Cardiff's Steven Caulker.
The former Tottenham man also scored on his England debut in Sweden last November and is regarded as a player of huge promise.
Nevertheless, the absence of Jones and Johnson does mean Tottenham's Kyle Walker is virtually a certain starter at right-back even though his only competitive England starts have both come against San Marino.
Source: PA
