Jordan Henderson is in a race against time to be fit and firing for the European Championships according to England boss Gareth Southgate.
The Liverpool skipper has recently undergone surgery following a groin issue.
He limped off in the Reds' defeat to Everton back in February and is still someway off returning.
Liverpool have felt his absence but the Three Lions could now have to make do without the midfielder.
Henderson has won 58 caps for England and is one of the senior members in a youthful group.
But Southgate admits it is touch and go as to whether the 30-year-old will make the summer showpiece.
"We know it’s going to be close to the end of the season and we will just have to see how it goes," he said.
"We are conscious that with any injury of that nature, there is a guide and a time defined but that anything can happen along the way.
"In terms of promises, we can only say that Hendo himself is very optimistic about how the operation went and the prognosis that the specialist has given him as to what is possible.
"We also know he is likely to be a bit short of match minutes in high-level games.
"There are a lot of things to take into consideration but, at the moment, that is a decision that is a few weeks away."
Jurgen Klopp will be sweating on the fitness of several leading lights at Anfield
He will be in the midst of a club vs country battle as each party puts their own ambition first.
The Reds boss has already talked down the chances of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez playing this summer.
"To be honest, the information I have in the moment [is] it will be unlikely," he said previously.
"So, not that I don't let them go because I don't want to have to do that anyway, but it's because of the extent of the injury.
"We all hope that they will be ready to start the preseason with us. That's what we hope."
