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Daniel Sturridge: 'New Liverpool signing can become top striker'

By Simon AustinBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments80

Daniel Sturridge

The man who brought Daniel Sturridge through the ranks at Manchester City hopes to finally see the striker fulfil his potential at new club Liverpool.

Jim Cassell headed City's academy when Sturridge spent three seasons there.

And he has been frustrated at Sturridge's lack of first-team appearances at both City and Chelsea.

"Hopefully Liverpool will get the best from Daniel as he has the potential to be a top-class international striker," Cassell told BBC Sport.

Cassell was City's academy director for 12 years, from 1997 to 2009, until he was given a new job heading up the club's international academies.

During his time in the role, Cassell brought through Micah Richards, Stephen Ireland, Michael Johnson and Joey Barton, and won the 2008 Youth Cupexternal-link.

And he quickly identified Sturridge, who moved to Manchester City from Coventry City as a 13-year-old in 2003, as a huge talent who could go on to achieve success at the highest level.

"Daniel was exceptional, even as a 13-year-old," Cassell said, after Sturridge completed his move to Liverpool from Chelsea for an undisclosed fee on Wednesday.

"He had great pace, fantastic feet and magnificent vision. I couldn't speak too highly of him when he was with us.

"He trained hard, was respectful and always immaculately turned out - I thought he was great. We knew he could go on and achieve great things."

Sturridge played in the 2006 Youth Cup final against Liverpool, which City lost 3-2 on aggregate despite the striker scoring twice in the home leg.

Sturridge sublime chip for Team GB

He was promoted to the first team squad in the 2006-7 season, but went on to make only 21 appearances for City, scoring five goals.

In July 2009 he moved to Chelsea and, although he got more first-team opportunities and won four caps for England, he was often played out wide and again failed to make a first-team place up front his own.

Cassell admits it has sometimes been hard to watch such a talent sitting on the sidelines.

"It's frustrating," he said. "In English football, we sometimes don't get the most out of our young players. The problem is enabling them to really establish themselves. They need that to really make it at international level.

"The English game needs to be patient with these young talents."

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80 comments

  • Comment posted by User0501332911, at 09:42 3 Jan 2013

    Good talent, he can really progress under Brendan Rogers

  • Comment posted by User0723414310, at 10:04 3 Jan 2013

    Haters are just going to hate, I think he will turn out a very good signing for Liverpool and all this bashing makes me laugh...

  • Comment posted by Stuart, at 09:37 3 Jan 2013

    He was reported to be unhappy at Chelsea because he prefers to play through the middle and given that Suarez prefers to play by himself up front and the form he is in, Sturridge might throw his toys out of the pram by Easter. I can only see Rogers using him when Suarez really needs a rest. As for him becoming a top player, he has a hell of a lot to learn. Good luck to him though.

  • Comment posted by _chris, at 10:05 3 Jan 2013

    Never been sure what to make of Sturridge. On loan at Bolton a couple of years ago he looked pretty good, but never really seen him do much for Chelsea. At least at Liverpool he's more likely to get a decent amount of playing time which should help.

    The only problem is that he apparently comes with something of an ego, or so I've heard...

  • Comment posted by McGaz, at 12:28 3 Jan 2013

    Hoping he gets a start in the cup. Not sure he's going to be ready to be first 11 when Utd come around.

    Either side of a disappointing results against Stoke, Liverpool have won 4-0, 3-0 & 3-0 with some very dominating performances. Man Utd can usually be dominated in midfield, but it's stopping RVP & Hernandes as they only need 1 or 2 chances to score.

    It's going to be a thriller.

  • Comment posted by User0256782628, at 10:34 3 Jan 2013

    Id say 12mill is a peanuts for a player of his age who has quite a lot of premiership expereince. There is sooooooo much worse you could do with 12mill, or 50mill, and his value is being unfairly misrepresented by the release value of Demba Ba. Im not a Liverpool fan, but as an Englishman, Im excited to see how he will fare at Liverpool and wish him all the best!

  • Comment posted by Owain ap Gruffudd, at 10:13 3 Jan 2013

    Another Liverpool forum! The Trolls will be logging on and getting really excited. Just watch them appear with their juvenile posts. Of course the usual troll fans (no need to mention who), will be excitedly tapping their keyboards looking to wind someone up.

    Hope Sturbridge can fulfil his potential, and give Liverpool more options up front.If he does well, the goals will pour in.

  • Comment posted by dogeared, at 10:09 3 Jan 2013

    @13

    Why would you call an England international and regular first team player at Chelsea unproven? Absolute muppet.

    Sturridge is a fantastic talent with huge potential - this is an excellent signing for Liverpool.

  • Comment posted by User0783307844, at 10:30 3 Jan 2013

    This lad has HUGE potential under Brendan Rodgers. He might be unproven but that makes no odds. HE has shown he has talent in his game and can put the ball away. Rodgers will work with him. He has Suarez who is without doubt the best player in the prem at the moment to help him in training and influence him. 'Proven' doesn't always work at different clubs. Look at Torres. Potential I like :D

  • Comment posted by Greatblackhawk, at 11:02 3 Jan 2013

    The positives are he's English, young and has demonstrated in spells that he has real potential.
    And that's what Rogers is buying - potential.
    IMO the money spent is a massive gamble.
    Whether he will dovetail well with Suarez is questionable.
    However Liverpool desperately needed more options up front so at least they got that right!!

  • Comment posted by User0947383723, at 10:40 3 Jan 2013

    @23 I thought she was a mermaid.

    Sturridge has all the physical abilities to be a very good signing for Liverpool, but he needs to develop his decision making and become more of a team player, whether he will remains to be seen but I can see why Liverpool would want to take the chance.

  • Comment posted by User0136106195, at 09:41 3 Jan 2013

    If both City (through the youth system) and Chelsea (through the transfer market) both thought him worthy of investing in and still he rarely got games, that tells you a lot more about the player than his ex-coach ever could.

    He's very over-priced, but if he actually sees the folly of his ways and starts performing, it could turn out to be a bargain in time. I mean, they paid how much for Carrol?

  • Comment posted by MickChannonsOtherArm, at 09:57 3 Jan 2013

    The reality with this lad is that we just can't tell how good or bad he is. He just hasn't played enough. If the PL wasn't swamped with foreign talent we'd know by now.
    I hope he gets the chance to prove us all wrong.

  • Comment posted by User0363155464, at 16:23 3 Jan 2013

    4-4-1-1 is the only way I can see him fitting in as a striker although he has never demanded to be a striker he has simply said that he feels his attributes would be better used playing up top if he accepts being a winger he should fit in well and hopefully he can hit the ground running against united and masnfield

  • Comment posted by Aviatorr, at 12:40 3 Jan 2013

    Unless Suarez leaves within the next year or two, I can't see this as a good move for Sturridge. If he wants to increase his game tally, he will either have to play wide, or play better than Suarez, or move on.. again...

    Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the new Robbie Keane...

  • Comment posted by Owain ap Gruffudd, at 10:29 3 Jan 2013

    @17 Totally agree with you. Why the obsession with height.

    Lionel Messi is 1.69m, and certainly not tall. He scores goals with both feet and his head. But I guess if he is too short, you wouldn't want him in your team?

    Agreed, height is not everything. If it was BR would still have AC.

  • Comment posted by User0939247286, at 12:07 3 Jan 2013

    Do the trolls even read their nonsense? All season we've heard that we are too reliant on Suarez, one man team. Now we sign Sturridge it instantly flips to he will never displace Suarez. Arguments that prove everything prove nothing. I've never read such tripe in all my life.

  • Comment posted by User0289685561, at 10:17 3 Jan 2013

    @7 why does every British team have to have an "aerial threat"? clearly B-Rod doesnt want his team lobbing balls in to the box, which is some sort of progression for the game no??

    Still sceptical about this signing though, this debate alone proves that.

  • Comment posted by User0238272276, at 10:31 3 Jan 2013

    He's obviously a player with talent but any manager with pretentions of getting 'the best' out of him must make him more of a team player. He's far too selfish at the wrong moments at the moment but he's still young and learning.

  • Comment posted by Simon Harris, at 15:57 3 Jan 2013

    Those who say Sturridge can't become a world class player clearly haven't seen some of his play. He has the talent, but does he have the passion? You can't teach quality, Sturridge has it, but quality on its own isn't enough.

    Compare Joe Cole and Lampard. Cole has more raw talent, but Lampard has way more passion. Cole underachieved. Lampard overachieved. Sturridge needs to find his passion.

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