By Craig Turnbull
18 May 2011 16:11:00
EPL : Daniel Sturridge, Bolton Wanderers v Arsenal
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Chelsea‘s Daniel Sturridge has admitted that he may have to leave the club for the sake of his career, but believes that he and Fernando Torres could forge a formidable strike partnership if he was given the chance to play.
The 21-year-old has spent the second half of the season on loan at Bolton Wanderers and has excelled for the Lancashire club, scoring eight times in 11 appearances.
But the young English forward realises that his chances of impressing in the first team at Chelsea may be few and far between with Torres, Didier Drogba, and Nicolas Anelka all vying for a place up front in Carlo Ancelotti’s starting line-up.
Sturridge insisted that despite his love for Chelsea he may have to leave the club if his playing time is restricted.
“I want to play first-team football regularly for Chelsea but if the chances don’t come at Chelsea then I will have to try and look elsewhere,” he told Sky Sports news.
“I do want to play regularly here but for me next season it’s very important to play first-team football.
“I love the club; I’ve been here now for a year-and-a-half and been on loan with Bolton. I don’t want to say that I’m going to leave the club.”
However, Sturridge believes that if he was given the chance, he would make an excellent partner for £50 million man Torres.
“He’s a great player, and I think myself and Fernando could be a great partnership,” Sturridge said.
“It’s not just Fernando at the club who’s a world-class striker.
“There are two others there as well, which is great.”
If he fails to make the grade, Sturridge suggested that it would be up to the club to choose whether it would be best for him to seek a permanent move or another temporary spell on loan.
“Whatever Chelsea decide,” he said. “It’s not for me to make that decision but the only decision I can make is that I want to play first-team football.”
Sturridge has been picked in Stuart Pearce’s provisional squad to play for England in the European Under 21 Championship in the summer, and the forward is very much looking forward to playing his part.
He said: “It’s going to be huge for my career and I’m hoping that we can lift the trophy. It’d be great for the country and great for myself also.
“I just think we’re going to do as well as we can when we get there and if we progress to the final, that’s as well as we’ve done, but I wouldn’t like to put pressure on the team and say that we’re going to win it because you never know what could happen in a tournament.
“Tournament football’s different to anything else.”