The best possible week for this Chelsea star?

In a week where much of the focus has been on the fact that his country England have to manage without Wayne Rooney during the opening stages of the Euros, and his club are without £50 million man Torres who is currently in the midst of a three match suspension for an equally stupid challenge resulting in a red card, Daniel Sturridge must be looking ahead to the rest of the season, and the summer and hoping for big things for himself.

After returning to parent club Chelsea following a successful loan spell at Bolton scoring 8 goals in 12 appearances, the 22 year old has made the most of opportunities offered to him by manager AVB and has now done more than enough to justify his place in the starting line-up of a team who have quality forwards in abundance, having just scored his fourth goal in as many games against Everton on the weekend.

With Torres suspended and even when eligible not an automatic choice for a starting place in the team and both Drogba and Anelka looking slightly off the pace at the minute, Sturridge has slowly become the main man for Chelsea. He is helped by the fact that he can also play on the wing, allowing for Drogba or Torres to play down the centre, and is more than capable of interchanging in any of the front three positions.

Sturridge also has the added benefit of actually scoring goals on a consistent basis, again something that the other Chelsea forwards, especially Torres have struggled to do so far this season. For a player who had he not performed so well preseason, by the admission of Bruce Buck, would have ‘probably been sent on loan again’ the rise of Sturridge may come as a surprise to most who expected the youngster to be a bit part player at the Bridge this season.

In AVB however, Sturridge has a manager who is willing to give youth a chance, and like Mourinho before his, is willing to drop big names in exchange for the players who are actually performing on the field. After being given the chance, Sturridge has shone this season, and like Welbeck at United, must have one eye on a place in the England squad for the 2012 Euros.

Having forced his way into the Chelsea side, the player will be looking to do the same on an international stage, and especially with the ban now inflicted on Wayne Rooney, the chances are there for the younger strikers should they make the final squad for the summer and Sturridge will be looking to do exactly that. If he continues in his current vein of form, don’t be surprised if he does exactly that.

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