Lambert in, Sturridge out of England squad

 

Sturridge

Southampton striker Rickie Lambert will lead England’s attack in the World Cup qualifier against Moldova on Friday after Daniel Sturridge was ruled out through injury.

Manager Roy Hodgson hopes the in-form Sturridge, who has returned to Liverpool for treatment on a thigh problem, may recover in time for Tuesday’s qualifier in Ukraine.

Hodgson was already without striker Wayne Rooney for both games due to a head injury and Lambert, who scored on his debut in a friendly against Scotland last month, will start against Moldova at Wembley alongside Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott.

“We have not exactly been lucky with injuries. We have lost five players that a couple of weeks ago I was really banking on,” Hodgson told a news conference on Thursday before adding defender Steven Caulker was also ruled out with an ankle injury.

“(Sturridge) has worked hard at his treatment. The initial prognosis was that he would not be fit for either. It will be touch and go for Tuesday but we won’t know until Sunday.”

England are well-placed to qualify for next year’s tournament in Brazil although they trail Group H leaders Montenegro by two points with a game in hand. Ukraine are third, a point behind England.