Frank Lampard Admits Chelsea Did Not Recognise Daniel Sturridge's Potential

Frank Lampard has admitted that Chelsea made a big mistake by allowing Daniel Sturridge to leave for Liverpool in January 2013 and were unaware of the striker's potential.

The 24-year-old spent most time on the bench during the first half of the 2012/13 season and was forced to play out of position instead of his preferred striking role with the Blues. However, Sturridge instantly hit the ground running when he moved to Anfield and shone under Brendan Rodgers's guidance.

The England international netted 10 goals in 14 Premier League appearances for the Reds before adding 21 goals in 29 matches, finishing as the second highest scorer during the 2013/14 season.

"It [selling Sturridge] was maybe not good ­business for Chelsea. It looks bad when you look back, but, at the time, you never know. Individually, for him, it was a good move," Lampard told the Mirror.

"He has gone from strength to strength. I think he is comfortable at Liverpool. I'm really pleased for Studge because, at Chelsea, I think he was a bit ­frustrated at Chelsea and struggling a bit to get in the team."

"Then he goes and he has a lot of belief in him there at Liverpool, you can see Brendan Rodgers really trusts in him, he started scoring and he hasn't stopped," the veteran midfielder added.

Lampard, who recently announced his departure from Chelsea after 13 years, believes Roy Hodgson's side could just reap the benefits of the Liverpool star's sublime form in the World Cup, pointing out that the Three Lions desperately needed a striker of Sturridge's calibre.

"For an English striker scoring as regularly as he has in the Premier League, it has been amazing and he is the sort of striker, the sort of attacking player, we have been crying out for with England," Lampard explained.

"Studge has got that inner-belief and no wonder, because he is one of the sharpest players I have seen off the mark, with his quick feet around the box and he gets his shots away, he is very difficult to defend against."

"He is someone who can make something out of nothing, as he did when he scored against Peru last week, so he has emerged and deserves to be on this stage," the 35-year-old concluded.