“I applauded his attitude because most people in his position would have been happy sitting on the bench, but he was never happy and that’s because of the determination that he has as a person.
“If you feel that you have the ability to play at a certain level, why should you not be asking the manager to give you an opportunity as a striker?
“The perception was that it was about money, that he was an upstart. But that confidence in himself has come to fruition now and I think you are seeing why he had as much confidence as he did.”
It has been the variety in Sturridge’s dead-eyed finishing that has been a delight for Liverpool and he must now seek to replicate that repertoire.
His record for England currently reads two goals in nine appearances: the seventh goal in the 8-0 rout of San Marino a year ago courtesy of a close range header and the penalty handed to him by Steven Gerrard in the 93rd minute of the 4-1 win over Montenegro back in October.
The chemistry in his fledging partnership with Rooney has yet to truly convince and, when they played in tandem in the pivotal wins over Montenegro and Poland, it was the Manchester United talisman who outshone his team-mate scoring the opening goal in both matches.
On those nights, Sturridge tended to over-elaborate in an England shirt, over-thinking his contribution and delaying his passes as if he was trying too hard.
Study just some of the 19 league goals he has scored this season – the tip-toe past a posse of Aston Villa before finding the back of the net or the exquisite lob over a stranded Tim Howard in the 4-0 rout of Everton – and he is best when performing on instinct.
Injury has, of course, prevented Sturridge from establishing himself before now. But that he is anxious to seize the chance stretching out in front of him should not be in doubt given he played 90 minutes against Germany last November when troubled by a thigh problem.
“I think he’s very passionate because he’s already shown that he’s willing to play for England when injured,” said Dean Sturridge.
“When Liverpool played Everton earlier this season he was having a spell when he was struggling but he still played for his country, so that shows how passionate he is.
“When people talk about him not having the goal record for England, yet you have to remember that when he was coming on under Fabio Capello it was usually only a cameo and he would often be played in a wide left position.“
For other England managers he hasn’t played as the focal point of the team. That’s something he’s going a long way towards earning.
Dean Sturridge added: “I did co-commentary for Sky at the U21 European Championships (in 2011) and people were asking me what kind of player my nephew was going to be and whether he’d be a number nine.
“I already knew then that he wasn’t an out and out number nine like Diego Costa but he also wasn’t an archetypal number ten like (Juan) Mata.
“He’s in between and that’s one of the reasons why him and Luis Suarez are so good together because they have an ability to drop between the lines but they can also play on the shoulder of the last defender which gives them an unpredictability that is very difficult to defend against.
“So no matter how good a defender you are he’s going to be very difficult to defend against because of that variety.”
If a striker’s art is all in the timing, then a stand-out performance from Sturridge against the Danes would come right on cue.
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