Rodgers hits out at England management

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has criticised England's handling of Daniel Sturridge after the striker returned to Merseyside injured.

The 25-year-old is likely to be out for a couple of weeks after he strained a thigh during a training session at St George's Park on Friday just over 36 hours after playing 89 minutes of the friendly against Norway.

England boss Roy Hodgson was preparing his players for Monday's opening Euro 2016 qualifier in Switzerland but Rodgers claimed had Sturridge been with his club he would have been given extra time to recover in the same situation.

“The only disappointment for us was Daniel Sturridge coming back injured as he had started the season very well,” Rodgers told talkSPORT. “We’re obviously disappointed because we feel it was an injury which could have been prevented.

“I think clubs work differently at times to international teams. “It’s more the recovery strategy. When we look at our players here we look at them individually in terms of what their needs are.

“Fast players would have a second day recovery while other players can work on that day.

"When you are that type of quick player like Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling and boys like Danny Welbeck you need to recover them.

“He (Sturridge) has worked so hard over pre-season and looked very fit and strong in our last game against Tottenham.”

Sturridge's absence places extra responsibility on new signing Mario Balotelli, who played 61 minutes on his debut at White Hart Lane following his €20m arrival from AC Milan.