Sturridge waits on Olympic verdict

Great Britain and Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge will discover after today’s friendly against Brazil if his Olympic dream has been shattered by a meningitis scare.

Sturridge has only just returned to training after being diagnosed with viral meningitis and remains a doubt for the Olympic football tournament, which starts for Team GB against Senegal at Old Trafford on July 26.

The 22-year-old is expected to play some part against Brazil and manager Stuart Pearce will decide after the match at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium whether or not to keep Sturridge in his squad.

“He looks very good, to be fair. Obviously, we are hoping to play him in some part of the game and really make a final judgment call at that stage,” Pearce said.

“But everything we have asked of him at the moment, he’s done. He’s come through that okay. But, I think the game, from a physical point of view, will tell us quite a lot.”

After facing Senegal, Team GB’s two other group-stage fixtures are against the UAE on July 29 and Uruguay in Cardiff on August 1.