Source: Team_Talk
AVB: Sturridge is our Hulk
Andre Villas-Boas has compared Daniel Sturridge to Porto superstar Hulk ahead of what could be the Chelsea's forward's maiden England call-up.[LNB] Blues boss Villas-Boas looks set to unleash Sturridge on former club Bolton on Sunday, with the 22-year-old having been given a breather since injuring his knee in the Carling Cup win over Fulham a week and a half ago.[LNB]Sturridge was forced to bide his time after moving to Stamford Bridge two years ago and admitted before Villas-Boas' appointment this summer that he would consider leaving in search of first-team football.[LNB]But he capped a stellar loan spell at the Reebok Stadium at the second half of last season and an impressive European Under-21 Championship for England with a stunning pre-season for his parent club.[LNB]Sturridge has carried that form into the new campaign and is now being widely tipped for a senior international call for his country's final European Championship qualifier in Montenegro on Friday.[LNB]He would go with a ringing endorsement from Villas-Boas, who sees similarities between the forward and the man whose 36 goals helped the Chelsea's boss' Porto side clinch an incredible four trophies last season.[LNB]"I'm not sure how his career will evolve," said Villas-Boas ahead of the Blues' Barclays Premier League trip to the Reebok Stadium.[LNB]"He offers me a little bit of the characteristics that I had with Hulk when I was at Porto."[LNB]Sturridge has previously expressed a desire to play as a central striker but Villas-Boas sees him exclusively on the right or left of an attacking trio for the time being.[LNB]"For this season, we won't use Daniel in the striker position," he said, revealing that space was reserved for the suspended Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Romelu Lukaku.[LNB]"We have been using Daniel on the right, coming inside.[LNB]"I spoke about it with Daniel in the beginning when I brought him over. Daniel is extremely happy in that position as well.[LNB]"I think it favours his natural and technical abilities and his pace, so he's competing for right and left winger positions.[LNB]"I use him on the right so, on his left foot, he likes to come in, likes to decide his next action.[LNB]"The good thing is he creates unpredictability when he goes onto his right foot."[LNB]Sturridge has always been quick but he has now added an end product to his game, both in terms of creativity and finishing.[LNB]Villas-Boas said: "You have pacey players but, in the end, what is more important is that, when you arrive to the ball, being able to do something with it and control it.[LNB]"He's a player who offers that.[LNB]"His abilities have been showing since last year, at Bolton and now at Chelsea and also at the European Under-21 Championship.[LNB]"He's a player that we count on like all the others."[LNB]The decision to loan out Sturridge was made by Villas-Boas' predecessor, Carlo Ancelotti, but it was one endorsed by the new Chelsea manager.[LNB]"To my decision-making, it was important," said Villas-Boas who rejected Bolton boss Owen Coyle's advances to extend the arrangement.[LNB]"To his formation as a player, I think it was important as well.[LNB]"Not that he didn't have that kind of ability before but every player evolves after a confident year like he had at Bolton, where he was scoring goals week in, week out.[LNB]"That's why we thought that his qualities were up to the standard of Chelsea's squad and we brought him home."[LNB]And what about being up to the standard of Fabio Capello's England?[LNB]"If he decides that Daniel can add to his squad, I'm sure he won't hesitate," said Villas-Boas, who insisted Sturridge's primary focus was on succeeding at Chelsea before thinking about breaking into England's Euro 2012 plans.[LNB]"I think his motivation is to win titles for the club.[LNB]"When he goes to the England environment - which for Daniel has been the under-21s and the youth levels - he will turn his focus of course on England's objectives."
