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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers expects Daniel Sturridge to be included in the England squad named tomorrow – but will speak to the FA to warn them the striker is not ready for two games in four games.

Sturridge scored two sublime goals in Saturday’s win over Aston Villa but the Reds boss believes a structured return is important and said: “It’s important we don’t break him now”.

The Liverpool striker’s fitness problems date back more than a year when he pulled up lame during a training session when on international duty with England in September 2014 after damaging thigh muscles.

Rodgers was furious as it occurred on what should have been a second recovery day for Sturridge after he had played 89 minutes against Norway at Wembley.

That resentment deepened as further calf and thigh problems meant it was five months before he was finally fit enough to return to action.

The Liverpool boss today said he hadn’t yet spoken to anyone in the England set-up but warned against playing the striker in both the qualifiers against Estonia at Wembley next Friday and away in Lithuania the following Monday.

Rodgers said: “I haven’t spoken (to England) as of yet.

“For every individual player you’ve got to assess and analyse where they’re at physically. Daniel has worked very, very hard and has come back ahead of schedule. We’ve just got to make sure we don’t break him at this stage.

“He’s still building his way towards fitness but what he gives us is that real quality in the final third of the field. He won’t be involved in the game (against Sion) which will keep him fresh and obviously work towards his fitness for the weekend.”

Rodgers believes it would be natural for Sturridge to be picked by England given his progress.

“Daniel’s back in the fold now, he’s obviously one of the top England strikers and if he’s back fit and performing I would expect him to be chosen for the national team.

“But at this moment in time the concern is to make sure he’s fit and ready for Liverpool.”

I'll speak to the FA on Daniel

Asked about whether Sturridge would be capable of playing two games in four days, Rodgers said: “Not at the moment, no.

“Listen the guys with England are intelligent enough and understand and I’m sure at some point we’ll have a little conversation before they meet up. I don’t necessarily speak so much with the international managers, I think when the players go away I let them deal with them.

“They’re highly qualified professionals who work at the level but certainly in Daniel’s case it’s probably worth me talking to the FA to let them know where he’s at with his fitness. I suspect that, he’s a player who’s coming back, Roy and his staff are intelligent enough to see that and I’m sure – him being in the squad – they’ll manage it accordingly.

Rogers believes the win against Villa showed promising signs of a partnership between Sturridge and Danny Ings.

“The combination was very good. Those two up front were a real threat. We scored three goals and could have had a few more. Danny Ings has been outstanding, he gives a real intensity, a real pressure in the game but he’s also got quality.

“One of the reasons we brought him here is that 25 yards out from goal, he look like he can score, he can manipulate the ball himself and shoot or you can see some of his touches to play Daniel (Sturridge in).

“Daniel has obviously shown and proven the qualities he has. So if we can keep him fit – he’s still got a way to go but he’s working towards a great level of fitness – then there’s a real good combination there.”