Daniel Sturridge is at risk of missing out on Euro 2016 with the Liverpool striker likely to miss England's friendly against Australia due to a knock.
The 26-year-old precautionarily sat out of the Three Lions' training session on Wednesday as they prepare to face the Socceroos at Sunderland's Stadium of Light on Friday evening
Speaking in a pre-match press conference, England manager Roy Hodgson revealed that the striker had complained of a calf strain after joining up with his international team-mates late having been involved in Liverpool's Europa League final loss to Sevilla last week, in which he opened the scoring in the first-half.
And the problem could push Sturridge out of the frame for the 23-man squad for the European Championships in France this summer with Hodgson having to cut down from his current 26-man selection.
Including Sturridge and four of his Liverpool teammates - Nathaniel Clyne, James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana - are four other strikers, with Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane likely to be rested this weekend after both finding the net in a 2-1 win over Turkey last Sunday.
That means Manchester United teenager Marcus Rashford, who exploded on to the scene with eight goals in 18 appearances towards the end of the Barclays Premier League campaign, could get a chance to earn his first international cap alongside United skipper Wayne Rooney up front.
Hodgson is unlikely to take as many as five strikers in a 23-man party, which he will decide upon by midnight this coming Tuesday, meaning Sturridge will have to prove his fitness to be in contention.
Hodgson willing to give Sturridge time to make comeback
Speaking on Thursday, the England boss insisted that he's had a calf strain "since he joined up" with them at their St George's Park training ground, adding: "We'd been hoping it would get better. We will see tomorrow. He wasn't able to train yesterday or today."
Hodgson continued that they are "waiting on" Sturridge and that he couldn't give journalists "any more informations than that" as he said that if the striker finds fitness then "I want him to play, if not, he won't."
The 68-year-old, who was at the Anfield helm from July 2010 to January 2011 before leaving by mutual consent, explained that Rashford will start if Sturridge isn't fit for the Australia clash and said: "There was no doubt that my original intention was to choose between Sturridge, Rashford and possibly one other. With those two out, it's pretty obvious Rashford is going to play a serious part in the game."
Hodgson and his side will conclude their pre-tournament friendly schedule with a clash against Portugal at Wembley Stadium next Thursday, with Manchester City midfielder Fabian Delph already amongst those to be culled because of a groin injury.
Sturridge, who missed the majority of the 2014-15 season after an injury picked up on international duty, has only just spent four months without any problems - his longest spell since June 2014 - but this latest ill-timed issue could mean he misses out..
Hodgson, however, indicated that he will leave his decision "as long as possible" because "a lot of things can happen in football" and said that there is, as yet, "no reason for me whatsoever to talk about who may or may not go."
Reds skipper Henderson backs Sturridge to return
The Three Lions' boss was joined by Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, who has also had his campaign heavily damaged by niggling injuries, but he backed Sturridge to recover in time.
"He'll be disappointed," admitted the midfielder when asked about his compatriot, insisting that Sturridge will "obviously" want to play "some part in the next couple of games before the tournament."
"He's got to make sure he's doing everything he can to get," Henderson insisted, saying that "hopefully he can be involved in the game tomorrow, and if not, the next one [after that]."