London: Daniel Sturridge has been ruled out of England's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine on Tuesday after failing to recover from a thigh injury.
It leaves England without its three leading strikers—the injured Wayne Rooney, suspended Danny Welbeck and Sturridge—for a match that will be crucial in determining which team finishes top of Group H and automatically qualifies for next summer's finals in Brazil.
Sturridge missed the 4-0 win over Moldova on Friday and returned to Liverpool for treatment on an injury that had been affecting him for more than a week.
England coach Roy Hodgson will not be calling up any replacements, meaning he is likely to start with Rickie Lambert up front in Kiev.
Rooney is out after sustaining a deep cut to his forehead.
England tops the group, a point ahead of Ukraine with three matches left.
