Daniel Sturridge – “We've Got The Fire Power To Regain The Title”

Daniel Sturridge has yet to feature in the Chelsea first team this season due to his sending off in his final game for Bolton last season, but the England Under-21 International may get a surprise start tomorrow against Sunderland.

Sturridge is raring to go tomorrow should he be given the nod by Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas and he has been speaking to the press ahead of the game. He said, “That loan spell at Bolton last season was a chance to show not only that I belong in the Premier League, but I can score goals at the highest level. When you are growing up, and you are deemed to be a player with potential, but you don’t get the chance to play regularly, you worry that the potential will never turn into the finished article.”

Sturridge has played under previous managers at Chelsea, but only as a bit part player. He went on to add, “At the moment, that potential still lingers over my head now, but this is a big season for me. This is the year when I could turn that promise into regular first-team football at Chelsea. I’m surrounded by world-class players who will help me to grow up and help me to learn, and we have a new manager who has encouraged me to believe I have an important part to play.”

Sturridge had a successful spell at Bolton which saw him score eight goals in 12 games and he feels the Premier League is where he belongs. He said, “There were times at Bolton when I felt, ‘This is my stage, this is where I belong’ – like scoring against Arsenal, and now I want to force my way into the first-team picture at Chelsea. I scored a few goals in pre-season, when the manager gave me a lot of opportunities to show what I can do, and now my ban is over I’m raring to go.”

Chelsea may be unbeaten in their three league games so far, but they have stuttered to seven points from nine. Sturridge remains confident that he can help his team win the Premier League back from Manchester United and said, “We’ve got the fire power to regain the title.”

He knows he is not guaranteed a place in the team tomorrow as competition is strong. He finished off by saying, “There is no shortage of competition for places up front at Chelsea, but that’s fine by me. I’ve got Drogba, Anelka, Torres and Lukaku for company, and I would much rather play with those guys than against them. When the last manager went out and spent £50million on Fernando Torres, I didn’t think to myself, ‘Oh no, I’ll never get in the first team now’ – in fact it was the opposite. Barcelona already had Xavi, Iniesta and Messi, but that didn’t stop them going out and adding Cesc Fabregas to their squad. Even the greatest club side on earth needs competition for places.”

Competition for places can only be good for the club, but with Didier Drogba injured and Fernando Torres yet to score this season now may be the time for Daniel Sturridge to step up to the plate and take his chance. Sturridge is ready, it is now up to the manager Andre Villas-Boas to give him his chance.