
It’s no secret Daniel Sturridge seems to be using his loan spell at Bolton to remind Chelsea why they signed him in the first place.
Our 21 year old striker has bagged a goal for them in each of his 3 appearances so far and Owen Coyle is far from surprised, claiming “He’s not surprised me – that’s why I brought him to the football club. I’m not sitting here trying to be smug, but it didn’t surprise me as to how well Jack Wilshere did here when we had him on loan from Arsenal, because of the belief I had in him as a player. I would say it’s been all about giving these lads a platform to go and show their quality, and Daniel is now showing that. I’ve always had that belief in him, and that’s why I did everything in my power to bring him to the club.
It’s great when it comes to fruition, and what Daniel has to do now is continue in that vein and focus on what is in front of him. I believe if he continues as he has been doing then he will have a glittering career, but he’s the one who has to deliver when he crosses the white line. I know the lad and he’s focused and determined to try and do that.”
Fortunately, Carlo Ancelotti is taking notice of Sturridge’s form and has made it clear Coyle won’t be hanging onto him, insisting “I’m happy because he’s our player and is doing well at Bolton. I hope he can score again because in the summer he will come back and rejoin us. That is certain.”
Coyle though, despite conceding he’ll have to hand the player back, seems to be holding out some hope of an extension, stating “If Carlo and Chelsea feel his future is there then that doesn’t surprise me because as I’ve said before he is a terrific player. There’s no shame in not being in the Chelsea starting line-up with Torres, Anelka, Drogba, Malouda and Kalou – these are fantastic, top-class players in world football, not just in league football. But I believe Daniel getting a platform shows he can mix with that sort of quality, and again it will be up to Daniel to see how far he takes it. For Chelsea it was a win-win situation because they have a young player out on loan with the platform of playing in the Premier League, allowing him to improve. And Chelsea will get back, as Arsenal did with Jack Wilshere, a player with experience, and all the better for it. Clearly the loan only runs to the end of the season, and then if there is anything in terms of dialogue for next season, that’s a different subject.”
Sturridge meanwhile hopes he can just use his time at Bolton to give Carlo food for thought, saying “It’s going to be difficult to go back to Chelsea with Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and now Fernando Torres there. But I believe in myself and I believe in my ability. I’m not worried about Torres coming. I think it’s great that there is healthy competition.”
Personally though, if Sturridge keeps up his form and Didier Drogba doesn’t, I can’t see him having all that much in the way of competition by the summer.