The Reds boss says his striker could play some part against West Brom at the weekend but is hopeful Roy Hodgson will not call him up for the Three Lions

Brendan Rodgers says Daniel Sturridge could play for Liverpool this weekend but is not fit enough to be called into the England squad.

The striker is currently out with a hamstring injury, picked up on international duty, and has been ruled out of Wednesday’s Champions League tie at Basel, although Rodgers is hoping he could play against West Brom on Saturday.

Hodgson is due to name his England squad on Thursday for forthcoming fixtures against San Marino and Estonia but Rodgers says Sturridge is not fit enough to be called up.

“He won’t be fit to play for England – whether he’s available for the weekend or not,” he told reporters. “I don’t think he’s fit to play for England.

“We are hoping he can develop over the next 48 hours, to be in a position to train with the team on Thursday, but that would his first involvement with the team, on Thursday, Friday and have the availability maybe for the squad for Saturday.

“But if we are talking about players to be picked for international duty then they need to be fit to play, and Daniel certainly won’t be fit to play.”

When asked if Rodgers expected Sturridge to be omitted from Hodgson’s squad, he said he was hopeful adding:  “It’s something we have already stressed. We will see.

“My focus is on protecting the Liverpool players and at this moment in time my focus is on getting him fit for Liverpool.

“We have good dialogue and he knows he can call and speak about any of the players.

“Hopefully he will have found anything I have ever said about the England players working with Liverpool to be helpful.”