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He’s damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t.

Liverpool fans aren’t exactly fond of Roy Hodgson. Indeed, the England boss has long since burnt any bridges with the fans at Anfield. Six ill-fated months at Liverpool in 2010/2011 saw to that.

And the 68-year-old hasn’t endeared himself to Liverpool fans since then. Especially when it comes to the treatment of Liverpool’s star striker.

Daniel Sturridge has picked up serious injuries while on international duty. Everyone knows that. Liverpool fans have accused Hodgson of using the striker irresponsibly, of being careless with their star man.

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Hodgson has annoyed Reds fans with his treatment of Sturridge - but ignoring him is an even worse mistake

And right now, the biggest mistake Hodgson will make is choosing NOT to pick the 26-year-old for the Three Lions’ crucial Group B clash with Wales.

Put simply, Sturridge is England’s best striker. When he is fit.

And right now, Sturridge is fit and ready to fire. Leaving him out would be a mistake.

Yes, Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy outscored the Liverpool man last season. Kane’s 25 goals fired Tottenham to a third-placed finish and the 24 struck by Vardy ensured Leicester City pulled off a remarkable Premier League title victory.

But a fit Sturridge matches both men stride for stride. In their last eight games of the season, both Sturridge and Kane scored six goals. Vardy five.

Right now, Kane is the man chosen to lead England’s line. The Tottenham man is a superb player. A prolific scorer, Kane is tall, strong, can use either foot and is deceptively quick. The 22-year-old has an exceptional injury record, playing all 38 Premier League games for Spurs last season and missing just four games the year before that.

Vardy, meanwhile, has burst to prominence after an exceptional season. The 29-year-old’s pace was a key part of Leicester’s counter-attacking style and can be very effective - but England will be expected to enjoy a lot of the ball against Wales, not play on the break.

So it comes down to Sturridge or Kane.

And Sturridge should have the edge.

Even Liverpool’s oldest enemies are endorsing the 26-year-old’s cause - Manchester United legend Paul Scholes backed Sturridge to start against Wales, and he couldn’t have been more right.

A straight talker, Scholes often says it how it is.

Sturridge has more pace, he said. Better skill.

“For some reason it seems he’s dropped right down the pecking order, but I still think he’s England’s best centre-forward and he should be playing,” said Scholes.

The only reason Sturridge has dropped down the pecking order is because of his injuries. Otherwise he would be an automatic starter. But at a tournament you only get one shot.

Sturridge’s pace and skill gives England another dimension to their play. He is the perfect mix of Vardy and Kane. Sturridge can be a threat on the counter attack for the Three Lions, and when they dominate possession his ability to create goals from nothing will keep Wales’ back four occupied throughout.

He is capable of drifting wide and bringing others into the game, dropping deep for the ball or playing on the shoulder of the defenders. Sturridge is also well used to playing in a pressing system with three attacking midfielders, a system Jurgen Klopp uses as Liverpool and one Hodgson went for in the opener against Russia.

He also has the big game experience. Sturridge won the Premier League, European Cup and FA Cup with Chelsea (granted, he was an unused substitute in both finals), and who can forget his brilliant opener against Sevilla in the ill-fated Europa League final for Liverpool last term?

It was a goal he would replicate in England training this week. So Hodgson will need no reminding of what he can do.

If he has been paying attention, Hodgson will select Sturridge to lead the line against Wales.

And should he go with the Liverpool man, Reds fans will curse Hodgson and watch from behind the sofa.

But they will be watching England secure their place in the knock-out stage of Euro 2016.