Injuries To Arsenal & Liverpool Stars A Real Cause For Concern, Admits England Boss

Roy Hodgson has admitted he’s growing increasingly concerned about the fitness of Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck and Liverpool hitman Daniel Sturridge ahead of the 2016 European Championships, as reported by the Mirror.

Welbeck last played for Arsenal back in late April when he suffered what was initially thought to be a minor knee injury and hasn’t played for his country since March.

The injury has proven to be far more serious than first thought and the attacker was forced to go under the knife last week to cure the problem once and for all.

The Gunners have refused to commit themselves to a timescale for Welbeck’s recovery, only saying he’ll be out for a period of months, but Hodgson claims the 24-year-old is facing 6 months on the sidelines.

If that proves accurate, it may mean Welbeck won’t be back playing again until well in to February and he’ll be facing a race against time to get himself back on top form and into contention for a place in the England squad for the 2016 Euro’s.

Liverpool striker Sturridge has also been plagued by injury problems over the past year with a succession of thigh and hip injuries restricting him to just 12 Premier League appearances last season.

The 26-year-old last played for England a year ago – when he first aggravated a thigh problem which kept him out for 2 months – and Hodgson has admitted the Liverpool man’s long-term fitness is also a cause for concern.

Both Welbeck and Sturridge have been regulars with England when fit but the Three Lions boss says they are now facing competition from the likes of Theo Walcott, Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy for a place in his starting eleven.

“Welbeck bothers me now. He has already been out for me since March and for Arsenal since April, so that’s over four months. And now I hear it’s another six months, so I can only hope that Danny recovers a bit quicker and then hits the ground running.

“Daniel is a little bit the same — it’s getting on for a year now.

“They are always in my thoughts, because I think they’re very good players and they did extremely well when they were playing in the national team I was coaching.

“But I’ve got to make certain that there are a few Vardys and Kanes and Walcotts and that, because we can’t keep going around talking about the ones who aren’t there.” Hodgson is quoted as saying by the Mirror.

Sturridge is due to return to the Liverpool squad by the end of the month so he should have no problem playing his way back in to the England set-up ahead of the Euro’s as long as he manages to keep himself fit this season.

However, Welbeck is another story as he’s now facing a lengthy spell on the treatment table and if he suffers any complications upon his return next year, then his place at the European Championships will be in jeopardy.