IT TOOK just one start in the Premier League for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp to appreciate the quality of Daniel Sturridge and to realise he’s got a genuine match-winner at the club.
“Of course, we need the goals of Daniel and he needs the goals – that’s clear,” said Klopp after the forward opened the scoring in the 6-0 rout of Aston Villa.
“But for me it is not (just about being) a striker, he can score of course, but how in tune he is with the team, his movements.
“He’s a real striker, that’s really good to see.”
Former Liverpool great Robbie Fowler was also impressed with the 26-year-old’s return from yet another lengthy injury lay-off, so much so he insisted the brilliant but ever so fragile striker simply has to be in England’s Euro 2016 squad – even if not fully fit.
Fowler said in the Liverpool Echo:
“Jamie Vardy is nailed on and he will probably go. Harry Kane, yes, nailed on. Wayne Rooney, nailed on.
“How many is he (Roy Hodgson) going to take? Four, or five?
“I’d take one more. If I’m being honest, Daniel Sturridge has only played a few games this year. He’s not fit, but I’d still take him. If he’s half-fit, he has got to go.”
We agree a fully fit Sturridge would be a huge boost for England but we’ve seen all too often the folly of taking half-fit players to major tournaments – David Beckam and Rooney immediately spring to mind.
The format at such competitions – a number of matches in quick succession with little time for recovery – is hardly ideal for a player with the awful injury record Sturridge has.
Since joining Liverpool just over two years ago the forward has missed more games than he’s played.
Unless he can string together a run of consecutive matches and stay injury-free until the end of the season, it’s just too big a risk to take him to Euro 2016.
Do Liverpool and England supporters agree or would you like to see England boss Roy Hodgson take a punt on Sturridge?
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