Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge has made it clear he wants to play as a centre-forward as he targets a regular starting berth this season.
Sturridge made a positive start to last season, starting in 18 games for Chelsea and scoring 10 goals by the end of 2011 but was predominantly played wide in a forward trio.
The 22-year-old attacker then found himself on the bench more often in the second half of the season and he does not want that to happen again.
“Nobody wants to sit on the bench so it’s important for me this season to be playing regularly and show everybody what I’m capable of doing as a centre-forward,” Sturridge told Chelsea’s official website.
“Collectively, winning trophies is what everybody wants to do.
“On a personal level, I just want to be playing regular first-team football.”
With Didier Drogba having signed for Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua and Romelu Lukaka sent on loan to West Bromwich Albion, Sturridge and Fernando Torres are Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo’s only two pure strikers on offer with the English Premier League season one week away.
Porto’s Brazilian striker Hulk has been linked with the London-based club but even if Chelsea do sign another centre-forward, Sturridge remains confident he can prove he deserves to start.
“Hopefully this season I’ll be playing up front, so whoever the manager signs or wants to bring in, it only gives me the impetus to want to do better,” Sturridge said.
“It’s important that you take your opportunities when they come along.”
