LONDON: Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge were yesterday recalled by England manager Roy Hodgson for the decisive World Cup qualifiers at home to Montenegro and Poland later this month.
Both players missed England’s last two games through injury.
Rooney has been recalled despite sitting out Manchester United’s 1-1 draw away to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday with a shin injury, but Hodgson expressed confidence about his fitness.
“We are reliably informed that it’s not a serious injury and it won’t stop him joining up with us,” Hodgson told a press conference at Wembley Stadium. The England manager said he was excited about the prospect of deploying Rooney and Sturridge together, the two strikers having scored 12 goals between them since the start of the season.
England face Montenegro at Wembley on October 11, before tackling Poland at the same venue four days later.
England squad for 2014 World Cup qualifiers at home to Montenegro, on October 11, and Poland, on October 15:
Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic/SCO), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich City)
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole (both Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones, Chris Smalling (both Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley (both Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (capt, Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Forwards: Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United). AFP
