Spare a thought for Daniel Sturridge

Daniel Sturridge’s footballing career has been one fraught with frustration.

Coming through the ranks at Manchester City, he was frustrated at the lack of opportunities to start games. Robinho had just been signed to kickstart the reign of the Sheikhs, and if he ever hoped to start ahead of the £32m record signing he was sorely mistaken. In search of regular first team football, he decided to make the move to Chelsea where arguably his problem worsened.

Sturridge rarely ever started a game at the London club. To do that he would have to displace Didier Drogba in his prime and then the £50m flop Fernando Torres (of course we all know he should have been ahead of Torres in the pecking order, but Abramovich wanted to give his record signing every chance to prove himself). He also picked up the stigma of being selfish and greedy on the pitch and arrogant off it. You can understand him wanting to make an impression in his substitute appearances with a goal which probably lead people to brand him as greedy, but I’ve no idea where this supposed arrogant persona ever came from.

A loan move to Bolton proved he could score on a regular basis in the Premier League, as he scored 7 goals in a half-season loan move that helped the Trotters stay up. However, on his return to Chelsea he still encountered problems. New manager Andre Villas-Boas seemed to recognise his qualities and regularly started him in games, where he did well. However once the Portugese was sacked halfway through the season, Roberto Di Matteo relegated him to the bench once more.

When Liverpool called, Sturridge recognised his first real chance to prove himself at a top club. Despite Suarez’s presence in the squad, Brendan Rodgers promised Sturridge that he would still start every game in his preferred central position alongside the Uruguayan. Sturridge effortlessly integrated with his new team, scoring plenty of goals alongside Suarez, and then on his own when the unpredictable striker was suspended.

However, last season there was perhaps a nagging thought that Sturridge was only so prolific in goal because defenders were too busy marking Suarez and not him, creating plenty of space for him to operate in. Despite netting 25 goals last year, he was beaten by Suarez’s total of 31 and it seemed he still felt he had to prove he could be the one to lead the Liverpool line, not Luis.

When Suarez was sold in the summer, he finally had his chance. He was the club’s star striker, with no one else able to match his quality. When he scored in the opening victory against Southampton, I’m sure he thought as everyone else did that this would be his year. Liverpool were on for another title challenge and this time he could inspire the club in its return to the Champions League.

But then he got injured. Seeing the club’s form completely deteriorate in his absence, both in the league and Europe, has been devastating as a fan, but imagine what it must be like for Daniel? Sat in the stands, knowing that his presence would undeniably improve his team’s results but unable to do anything about it.

So spare a thought for Daniel Sturridge; at this point, we can relate to him more than ever.

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