The Three Lions boss has named his team for the Wembley showdown and says he is happy to see competition for places in his squad hotting up ahead of the World Cup

Roy Hodgson has confirmed that Daniel Sturridge will start for England when they face Germany at Wembley on Tuesday.

The Liverpool striker missed the 2-0 defeat to Chile on Friday and doubts were raised over his participation against Joachim Low’s side after he left training early.

However, Hodgson has confirmed he is indeed fit, and was also happy to name his starting line-up for Tuesday’s clash.

“Daniel Sturridge is fine. Last week he couldn’t take part in training much as he was having treatment,” he announced in his pre-match press conference.

“But his injury has been improving and the only reason he came off in the training game was to give Rickie Lambert a chance at centre-forward because there is a good chance I want to see him.”

Hodgson also revealed that Southampton’s in-form midfielder Adam Lallana will be handed another chance to impress after making his Three Lions debut against Chile, while fellow youngsters Tom Cleverley and Andros Townsend will also feature.

“There are more and more positions where competition for places is hotting up and that’s how it should be,”  he added. “There is always a challenge which is going to be to have the right squad of players in Brazil and get the right balance.

“I’m very pleased we have a group of players constantly satisfying me with their work and attitude.”

The England manager also confirmed that Joe Hart will return in goal and says he is confident the Manchester City man will put in a strong performance.

“I am sure he will respond very well. He is a proud man and very pleased to be playing for England. We have had no cause to doubt him in the qualifying games and also the Euros,” he said.

“We are unbeaten in 14 games and I think he is entitled to feel confident that when he puts on the England jersey we are all behind him and expect him to play well tomorrow night.”

England team to face Germany: Hart; Walker, Smalling, Jagielka, Cole; Cleverley, Gerrard, Lallana, Townsend; Rooney, Sturridge.

The Liverpool striker says he enjoys playing with the Manchester United man and feels the two forwards complement each other nicely for the Three Lions

Daniel Sturridge has hailed his burgeoning partnership with Wayne Rooney for England ahead of Tuesday’s international friendly with Germany at Wembley.

The Liverpool man missed Friday’s 2-0 defeat to Chile but is expected to return alongside the Manchester United star in attack against Joachim Low’s side.

And Sturridge says he enjoys playing with Rooney and feels the two strikers can forge a great partnership for the Three Lions.

“Wayne Rooney is a world-class player and it is easy to play with him. I enjoy playing with him,” he told reporters.

“We complement each other’s game. In training, it is almost as if we don’t need to work on things. We know where we are, where team-mates are.”

Sturridge also missed June’s 2-2 friendly draw with Brazil at the Maracana due to injury, and has revealed his disappointment at being forced to sit out the game.

“I really wanted to play against Brazil to showcase my talents. The boys did well but from a personal perspective I was devastated,” he added.

“When these opportunities come about you have to show what you can do. I am playing my natural game and doing things off the cuff.”

Sturridge goes into Tuesday’s game in superb form having scored 10 goals this season for Liverpool and says he is starting to prove himself, having been perceived as over-confident earlier in his career.

“I have always been confident in my abilities, always expressed myself,” he said.

“When you are a young player sometimes you get misunderstood, and that’s probably the perception I gave everyone when I said certain saying things.

“People were thinking ‘he is saying this and he has not proved himself or not done anything to say what he’s said’.

“In the past I have maybe not been given the opportunity to back up what I have said. I am now being given the opportunity.”

The Spaniard takes on the Reds for the first time as Toffees boss on Saturday at Goodison Park and says he cannot wait to taste “such an exciting fixture”

Everton manager Roberto Martinez says he is looking forward to his first Merseyside derby with his new club as he prepares to take on Liverpool at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Both clubs have begun the season in fine style with the Toffees going into the game just three points behind Brendan Rodgers’ high-flying Reds who sit second in the table.

Martinez says he is excited by the prospect of facing Liverpool, and is expecting a good game with both teams in such good form.

“You can tell it’s got a special feel about it and especially now that both teams are in very good positions after strong starts to the season,” he told the club’s official website.

“So, it’s going to be a good fixture – an important fixture. But, I think more importantly, a real football celebration of how well the two teams have started so far.

“It’s an exciting fixture in the football calendar, never mind just in Liverpool. So, there’s been a lot of talk, a lot of stories mentioned around the derbies, so I’m really, really looking forward to seeing Goodison in such an exciting fixture.”

Martinez says the fixture has all the ingredients needed to make it one of the most important games in the world and says it promises to be an intriguing match.

“From my point of view, it’s the most exciting one for the history that is surrounding the game and the passion of the fans,” he added.

“It makes it a really, really important game. I think the two teams are now sharing a similar football style, which is going to make it a really fascinating game of football.

“I think from every single angle you want to measure a derby game; this one could be as good as any if you are looking throughout the football world.

“So, you can imagine the ingredients are there and I think the quality that the two squads are bringing to the game is going to make it a special football game.”