Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge will make his first England start in 18 months when they host the Netherlands in Tuesday’s Wembley friendly. The 26-year-old missed the entire Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with injury. “No-one doubts his quality. His goalscoring record is unbelievable,” said his Reds team-mate James Milner, who will captain England on Tuesday. Roy Hodgson is set to make changes from Saturday’s 3-2 win in Germany, with keeper Fraser Forster certain to start.
England manager, 68, refused to confirm whether Danny Drinkwater would start, saying the Leicester midfielder “might” make his debut. “There will be changes, but how wholesale they will be, you will have to wait and see,” he added. Meanwhile, Spurs keeper Michel Vorm and Chelsea midfielder Marco van Ginkel have been added to the Dutch squad. The Dutch, who finished third at the 2014 World Cup, have not qualified for this summer’s Euro 2016 finals in France.
England go into the friendly against Danny Blind’s side in buoyant mood after fighting back from 2-0 down to beat world champions Germany in Berlin. But both Hodgson and Milner insist the squad are looking forward as they continue to prepare for Euro 2016. “We should be rightly proud of the win but that moment of satisfaction has now passed,” said the manager. The fact the Netherlands have suffered a lean period doesn’t alter the fact they have very good players and are a very good team.
“After the Germany game we don’t want a game that doesn’t test us. I want these games to show that we have players capable of doing what we want them to do,” added Hodgson. Milner said: “If we don’t perform well then everybody will forget about the Germany win and that feel-good factor and momentum will be lost.” Hodgson’s attacking options have been boosted by the return of Sturridge – who has only won 16 caps – and Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck from long injury lay-offs. But the England manager says the pair must both prove their fitness before he names his Euro 2016 squad in May.
Curated from England v Netherlands – BBC Sport
