Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has withdrawn from the England squad because of injury, the Football Association has announced.
Earlier on Monday, the 25-year-old was assessed by the club's medical staff after picking up a hip injury, sources have told ESPN FC. Sturridge suffered the problem during Liverpool's 2-1 Premier League defeat at home to Manchester United on Sunday.
Sturridge did join up with the England squad a few hours before the being assessed for a hip injury, but the results of a scan ruled him out of action.
An FA statement said: "Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has left the England squad and returned home to his club on Monday evening.
"This follows a scan on an injury that he sustained during Liverpool's game against Manchester United on Sunday.
"The England medical team took the decision on Monday evening having assessed Daniel following the squad's arrival at St. George's Park on Monday afternoon."
Sturridge's absence increases the likelihood of Tottenham's Harry Kane playing a significant role in the upcoming games against Lithuania and Italy -- the first a Euro 2016 qualifier -- after receiving his first call-up on Thursday.
Adam Lallana also withdrew from the England squad after coming off at half-time on Sunday with a groin injury. He was replaced in the squad by Ryan Mason.
Sturridge has been beset by injury problems this season, and it was always unlikely he would be risked if he is not fit.
The striker missed almost five months of the season with thigh and calf injuries before returning to action at the end of January. His first injury, a thigh problem, was sustained during an England training session on Sept. 5.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers suggested at the time that Sturridge had been pushed too hard by England coach Roy Hodgson, who rejected that claim.
A month later, Sturridge's Liverpool teammate Raheem Sterling was left out of the starting line-up for a Euro 2016 qualifier in Estonia after telling Hodgson that he was feeling tired.
Rodgers rejected any suggestion that he had put pressure on Hodgson not to start Sterling. Both managers have insisted since then that relations between them are good, with Rodgers keen to avoid saying anything on the topic that could be interpreted as controversial.
With four Liverpool players named in the England squad to face Lithuania, Rodgers was asked at a news conference last Friday how discussions had gone in terms of their training regime while on international duty, and replied: "I'm sorry, I've got nothing for you on that."