England boss Roy Hodgson expects Daniel Sturridge to be fit to start up front in tonight’s friendly with Germany after confirming his chosen line-up for Wembley.

Liverpool striker Sturridge is to begin the match alongside Wayne Rooney, one of two survivors from Friday’s loss to Chile along with Southampton’s Adam Lallana, who is in line for his second appearance.

Hodgson confirmed his line-up would be the same as the one which performed together in Monday’s open training session, meaning Steven Gerrard will captain the side on his 108th appearance.

Sturridge, who had been carrying a thigh injury, will play from the start despite leaving the day’s session early.

“He’s fine,” Hodgson said. “Last week he couldn’t take much part in training. He was having treatment from the injury he brought with him, but that is improving all the time.

“The only reason he came off after two of the (training) sectors, if you like, of the game we were playing this morning, was to give Rickie Lambert a chance also to play at centre-forward.

“There’s a good chance I want to see him on Tuesday night as well as Daniel Sturridge.”

Hodgson had already confirmed Joe Hart would return in goal despite being recently dropped by Manchester City for a series of high-profile errors this season.

The England boss has every confidence in his first-choice stopper, who displaces Fraser Forster.

Hodgson added: “I’m sure he’ll respond very well.”

England XI to face Germany: Hart, Walker, Smalling, Jagielka, Cole, Gerrard (capt), Cleverley, Townsend, Rooney, Lallana and Sturridge.