Daniel Sturridge says he feels no pressure at being England's number nine

Posted Monday, May 26, 2014 by skysports.com

Daniel Sturridge says he feels no pressure at having to wear the famous England number nine shirt at the World Cup in Brazil.

Daniel Sturridge: Happy to be England's number nine.

Sturridge will spearhead England's attack this summer, just as Alan Shearer and Sir Bobby Charlton did when they wore the revered number nine shirt.

The Liverpool striker, who scored 21 Premier League goals this season, only has 10 caps but is relaxed about leading the line for England in Brazil.

"I don't feel any pressure in terms of the task ahead because I feel that we have prepared for this," said Sturridge, whose three England goals have come against San Marino, Montenegro and Denmark.

"I am excited by it all. When you are young you always want these moments. This is my first World Cup. It's just embracing it all, not about feeling any pressure to do something amazing. Daniel Sturridge says he feels no pressure at being England's number nine

"I just have to play my normal game."

Injury prevented Sturridge from playing alongside Wayne Rooney for a large part of last season but England manager Roy Hodgson is hoping the pair hit it off in Friday's friendly versus Peru, and the two other warm-up games that follow against Ecuador and Honduras.

Another option for Hodgson is to play Rooney and Sturridge alongside Manchester United's Danny Welbeck in a three-man attack.

Welbeck had a stop-start season as United struggled in the Premier League but the striker is hoping to put that behind him and prove himself in Brazil.

"I just want to prove myself to me and to the world," Welbeck said.

"I want to show everyone what I can do. Going into the World Cup is a massive stage and I can't wait to do that."

The United striker has also backed Old Trafford team-mate Wayne Rooney to show the world what a great player he is.

Welbeck added: "Wayne is a great player for club and country. He is fit and raring to go and we all know what he can produce on the big stages so I am really excited to see him and what he can do for England in a World Cup."