OPINION
It’s hard to think of a player who has managed to do more with less so far this season than Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge.
The 5ft 10 in frontman [Source: Transfermarkt] has had to wait for his chances this campaign, as he plays second fiddle to the team’s formidable front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.
However, whenever the Englishman has been called upon he’s been terrific and has changed games for Jurgen Klopp’s team. It’s been a stunning turnaround for a man who looked finished at Anfield just a few months ago.
The 29-year-old has played just 186 minutes of football this season, about two games, but he’s still managed to find the back of the net four times.
He’s bagged three of those strikes in big games, as well, delivering the goods twice against Chelsea this past week as well as opening the scoring against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last month.
His latest strike, a wonderful curling effort to rescue a point for the Reds at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, was a reminder of his quality.
And with Gareth Southgate set to announce his latest England squad for the games against Croatia and Spain this week, the former Chelsea man surely has to be included.
Not only has Sturridge been in terrific form, but there is a real dearth of quality English centre forwards, which should only strengthen his claim for a squad place.
Southgate tends to select three or four strikers in his squad. Last time out Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford and Danny Welbeck were the trio called upon.
Sturridge, certainly, has done more to warrant his inclusion than Welbeck. The Arsenal striker has also netted a few goals this season, but Sturridge has simply looked far more impressive than the Gunners frontman.
Southgate likes his players to be playing regularly which may go against Sturridge, but the Liverpool man has such quality that the Three Lions boss surely cannot ignore him.
The 29-year-old has made the most of what he’s been given this term, and for that he deserves a recall to the England squad this week.
