Sturridge aims for greatness

Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge has stated his desire to become one of the ‘biggest players around’ ahead of his possible England debut.

The 22-year-old has been named in Fabio Capello’s England squad for friendlies with Spain and Sweden and has staked his claim for a first senior cap with his fine club form.

“I want to be one of the biggest players around. I don’t want to be content with just being average,” Sturridge told the Daily Express.

And Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard has backed the 22-year old to be a success on the international stage.

“Daniel will break through at international level. He has skill, unbelievable speed off the mark and he can finish,” Lampard said.

But the most important opinion is that of Capello, who was impressed enough by his early season form that he handed him his first senior call-up.

“He scores goals. I’ve seen him play right wing, left and centre-forward and he has improved a lot,” Capello said.

With Wayne Rooney absent, Capello has called upon a relatively inexperienced quartet of strikers for the friendlies, with Danny Welbeck, Bobby Zamora and Aston Villa poacher Darren Bent giving the squad a fresh look to it.

Bent, with 11 caps, is the most experienced of the four at international level, and having missed out on the last two World Cup squads is eager to solidify his place in the squad against the world’s best.

Bent, with four international goals to his name, said: “Every time you play for your country it is like you are on trial, to be honest.”

“If I get selected, hopefully I’ll do myself justice and hang onto the shirt.”

“I’ve got a few goals recently for England but this is going up another gear. Spain are the best team in the world, who won the last World Cup and (Euro 2008).”

“They’ve got players out of this world and it will be a great game to be involved in.”