Does Daniel Sturridge have a future at Chelsea?

Torres and Drogba, Drogba and Torres – the big debate that surrounds Chelsea’s starting eleven and has done since the arrival of the £50 million pound Spaniard last January. Add in to the mix Anelka, Kalou and Malouda the task of breaking into the front three for Chelsea looks more daunting than ever. Much has been made of the players mentioned and their chances of becoming a regular started under Andre Villas-Boas, but one man who little has been mentioned about is Daniel Sturridge, returning from a hugely successful loan spell at Bolton, where he scored eight goals in twelve games – a considerable amount more than Torres and with players of significantly less quality around him.

Sturridge’s pre-season form for Chelsea has been bright, with a good goal scored against Kitchee on the tour of Asia, and the player looking fit and ready for the upcoming season. His 6 foot 2 inches muscular frame provides a physical presence up front, with quick feet and a footballing brain to match.  A former winner of City’s Young Player of the year award, and the only player ever to score in the Youth FA Cup, the FA Cup and the Premier League in the same season, Sturridge has masses of talent and potential that has only just begun to be tapped into.

Although the player himself admits he has not spoken to AVB about his future at the club, his positive attitude, form and confidence must have been noted by the back room staff and players alike.

Still a young lad of twenty one, Sturridge needs first team football to continue to develop his skills and hone his ability. Clearly he is a player capable of playing at the highest level, and needs to have the minutes on the field in such games in order to grow into his skills and fulfil his reputation as one of the best young strikers around. If he cannot get this playing time at Chelsea, it seems that he should at the very least look to going out on loan again to get more experience under his belt, or look to a permanent move where he will be given a chance at the club.

Given the form of Sturridge compared to that of Torres, who can only be given credit for his time at Chelsea so far if he was working for one of Chelsea’s rivals as a double agent such has been his form since joining, it is the English boy who merits the chance of a place in the Chelsea squad. Sturridge certainly seems to display more quality than Kalou ever has and with Anelka and the mighty Drogba getting older and thus less able to play the amount of games required, Sturridge’s youth is a major reason why Chelsea should look to develop the player, who has more than a slim chance of becoming the next Didier Drogba for Chelsea. The fact that Sturridge is English is also a great thing for our National team, with already stellar performances for the under 21’s under his belt.

Given the chance, Sturridge has as much chance as anyone of breaking into the Chelsea first team, and should the opportunity be given to the player, it seems more than likely that he would grasp the chance with both hands and terrorise more than a few defences this season. If the chance is not given and an under-firing Torres is preferred to him, not only will Chelsea lose Sturridge to one of their rivals, but AVB could well lose the chance to win trophies and his job, much like Ancelotti before him.

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