England manager Roy Hodgson has stated that he left Daniel Sturridge out of the squad for the Euro 2016 qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania to allow the striker more time to regain match fitness.

The Liverpool player, who has not featured for England since September last year due to injuries, returned to action for Brendan Rodgers's team last week and then scored twice in the Reds' victory over Aston Villa on Saturday.

Hodgson has said that it would be more beneficial for the 26-year-old to miss the forthcoming qualifiers to ensure that he is ready for next month's friendlies with Spain and France.

"Myself, Ray Lewington and Gary Neville had our meeting to discuss what we thought the squad should be and we made a decision then," he told the FA's official website.

"We think it is better for him at the moment, having just come back, to really concentrate on what is almost a pre-season for him. This two weeks will be really important for him.

"We can survive without him in these two games where we are already qualified and I'm really hoping for Daniel that we'll see a player who comes to us in November super-fit, fully-recovered and in great form."

England face Estonia next Friday before taking on Lithuania in their final qualifier three days later.