Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge insists he's working hard to shake off bad boy image

Daniel Sturridge was forced to grow upfast after arriving atChelsea with thereputation of ayoungster who has anattitude problem. But the only criticismof him now is that hecould be strongermentally in his quest toreach the top. 'I have matured in thelast year and realisedwhat football is allabout,' said Sturridge,who is being earmarkedas Nicolas Anelka's long-termsuccessor. Game-set and match: Daniel Sturridge scores England U21's winner against Portugal'Goingto a big club shows youthat it is not only aboutplaying, it is aboutthings off the park, too. 'I don't go out trying toget drunk or anythinglike that. I don't thinkabout anything butkicking a ball and tryingto get into the Chelseateam.' Sturridge, whose goalsecured a 1-0 win forEngland Under-21s inPortugal on Friday, hasnot been accused ofbeing dazzled by thebright lights or gettinginto too many scrapesaway from the trainingground, like another ofEngland's bright youngstars, Jack Wilshere. Blue boy: Daniel Sturridge wants success with ChelseaBut the flipside ofbeing marked out forgreatness from his earlyteens has been beingcast as greedy andcomplacent. If anysenior playersquestioned his view ofthe game a year ago,however, they are notnow. The Chelsea trainingground talk is of adecent lad who has electric pace and hasbenefited from his timeat the club sincearriving fromManchester City. And the 21-year-old isgetting the message. Hesaid: 'The bad press I'vehad has made me think Ijust have to get my headdown and not worryabout the talk. 'It hurts to hear peoplesaying that City let mego because I was big-headedand wanted themoney. I left to wintrophies and we won theDouble last season. 'Ihave no regrets at all.' Chelsea could be scuppered in Lukaku swoop as Inter Milan chase sensationThe man who made Chelsea smile! Carlo Ancelotti on reveals the secrets of his Double successPortugal U21 0 England U21 1: Wilshere dropped as Sturridge strikes 

Source: Daily_Mail