• FA hope both players will be fit for World Cup qualifiers • Steven Caulker and Jermain Defoe also miss session

This article is more than 7 years old

This article is more than 7 years old

Daniel Sturridge and Jack Wilshere both missed England training on Tuesday morning as the squad gathered to prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine.

Sturridge was carrying a thigh injury during Liverpool's victory over Manchester United and has been given extra time to get back to full fitness.

Wilshere went off in the first half of Arsenal's win against Tottenham at the weekend with stomach cramps and he has also been afforded more time to recover.

Both players will remain with the squad at St George's Park, though, and the hope is that they will be fit for Friday's qualifier against Moldova and the crucial game in Ukraine four days later.

England's manager Roy Hodgson is desperate for the in-form Sturridge to be fit for the double-header as he is without Wayne Rooney, who withdrew at the weekend with a head injury.

Cardiff's defender Steven Caulker and the Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe did not train with the squad in Burton, but they will do light fitness work later in the day.

All the other members of Hodgson's 25-man party trained, including Ross Barkley and Andros Townsend, who have been called up for the first time.

Hodgson's preparations for the games suffered a blow last weekend when Rooney, Phil Jones and Glen Johnson pulled out through injury.