Roy Hodgson risks Premier League WRATH by allowing Raheem Sterling international break

England will allow the winger, who has been playing with a toe injury for which he has received injections, to miss next week's trip to Turin for the friendly with Italy.

Sterling, 20, will make his 50th appearance of the season if he starts against Lithuania at a sold-out Wembley.

That an agreement is already in place will raise eyebrows among Liverpool's Premier League opponents, who would look for their own players to be treated favourably ahead of the resumption of the domestic programme.

Liverpool travel to Arsenal on April 4 for a pivotal game in their chase for a Champions League place as they seek to recover from the disappointment of Sunday's reverse to Manchester United. Arsenal's Danny Welbeck, Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs are in the squad.

Hodgson sparked a simmering row with Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers in October when he revealed he had put Sterling on the bench against Estonia after the player had "complained of tiredness".

Sterling trained with England yesterday and has already seen Liverpool team-mates Daniel Sturridge, below, and Adam Lallana withdraw due to hip and groin injuries.

Hodgson said he expects further withdrawals in addition to having lost Luke Shaw and Fraser Forster. He said: “People may judge us on Italy rather than Lithuania but that is dangerous because apart from all the players I have lost through injury, I fear we will lose a few more.

“Already there are one or two who I know won’t be able to join us against Italy because of the current problems they are dealing with at the moment.”

Hodgson also warned against expecting too much from Harry Kane if the Tottenham striker, who has scored 29 goals this season, makes his senior debut in the game. He said: “It’s fantastic what he has done. But I hope people have a reasoned approach and give this guy a chance.

“He is going to have some good games and some bad games and hopefully he has 10-12 years of potential with England and in Premier League matches in front of him.”