Source: Team_Talk
Rooney will make it - Sturridge
Daniel Sturridge is dreaming of gatecrashing England's European Championship squad - but not as a replacement for Wayne Rooney.[LNB] The clamour for Sturridge to be handed his maiden international call-up grew yesterday when he netted for the fourth time in four Premier League games to help Chelsea end their Everton hoodoo.[LNB]Blues striker Sturridge has emerged as a real contender to fill the void left by Rooney's suspension for the Euro 2012 group stage, the 22-year-old arguably the country's most naturally gifted forward beyond the Manchester United star.[LNB]Rooney's ban has led some to speculate England boss Fabio Capello might not take him to next summer's finals, with Sturridge seen as a potential beneficiary.[LNB]But the Chelsea star is in no doubt the nation's talisman will be on the plane to Poland and Ukraine - he just hopes to be there too.[LNB]"I think Rooney's going to go regardless because he's the best striker," Sturridge said. "He's one of the world's best strikers.[LNB]"I don't think, for myself, I've ever thought I'm going to go because Rooney's not going, or anything like that.[LNB]"He's been doing it week in, week out at one of the biggest clubs in the world."[LNB]Even if Rooney manages to reduce his three-match ban, England will still need someone to replace him at the start of Euro 2012.[LNB]Sturridge added: "If that person's me then it will be great, but I don't know.[LNB]"If my form's good enough to actually get me in the team, that would be fantastic - it would be a dream come true.[LNB]"But I can't think I'm going to get in there or think I'm going to be selected because I haven't been selected for any of the squads yet.[LNB]"I'd never be stupid enough to assume I'm going to be the guy who's starting in the Euros."[LNB]So good has Sturridge's form been in 2011 - on loan at Bolton, for the England Under-21 side and now for Chelsea - it is becoming more and more perverse that he has yet to be called upon by Capello.[LNB]That will surely change during England's friendly double-header against Spain and Sweden next month, with Capello having already indicated he will use the games to blood more youngsters.[LNB]Sturridge said: "The manager of England picks the squad he thinks is the best on the form the players have and, at the moment, my form's not good enough.[LNB]"I'm going to make sure my form's good enough and I'm going to make sure I can do all I can to get into the team."[LNB]This year has seen Sturridge come of age after a frustrating first 18 months at Stamford Bridge following his controversial move from Manchester City.[LNB]So limited were the youngster's opportunities under former manager Carlo Ancelotti, he admitted he fell out of love with the game.[LNB]He revealed last season he would consider quitting Chelsea if he did not see more action, but he did enough in his loan spell at Bolton to convince new boss Andre Villas-Boas of his abilities.[LNB]Sturridge said: "I came back more confident because I'd been playing and scoring goals.[LNB]"Maybe I've matured since I was at Bolton because playing regular first-team football does mature you and you become a much more well-rounded person.[LNB]"When I was here, I was always upset and I was always down because I wasn't playing. I didn't love football as I do now."[LNB]Sturridge put Chelsea on their way to a 3-1 win over bogey side Everton yesterday, with John Terry and Ramires sealing the victory before Apostolos Vellios grabbed a late consolation for Everton.[LNB]It was a third successive defeat for the visitors, who are in the midst of a nightmare run of fixtures.[LNB]Manager David Moyes said: "When I saw the fixtures, I could see that and that's why it was important to take some healthy points at the start of the season.[LNB]"We hope to pick up a win somewhere along the line in this tough run of games.[LNB]"We all know we're in a much tougher position than we were last year.[LNB]"Hopefully, I'm proved wrong come the end of the year.[LNB]"We tend to get better as the year goes on, but it will be tough."[LNB]Cash-strapped Everton have been perennial top-six contenders under Moyes in recent years, but he added: "That's probably unrealistic, but I don't like saying that because I'm always one of these ones to say 'I'll attempt to win the league, I'll take you on'."[LNB]
