Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge insists he is not letting the pressure get to him after being handed the number nine shirt to wear for England at the World Cup in Brazil this summer.
Sturridge has enjoyed his most successful season domestically, netting
21 league goals as Liverpool finished second to Manchester City in the Premier League.
The former Chelsea and Manchester City man has only featured 10 times for the Three Lions, who are priced at 26.00 to win the World Cup, but he is expected to play a key role in South America.
He will wear the famous number nine shirt as worn previously by greats such as Bobby Charlton and Alan Shearer but he insists that he is not letting that play on his mind.
Sturridge said: “I don’t feel any pressure in terms of the task ahead because I feel that we have prepared for this.
“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.
“I just have to play my normal game.”
The 24-year-old will line-up alongside Wayne Rooney in Roy Hodgson’s side and although the two have not played together regularly due to injury he remains confident that they can spark up a relationship.
The duo will have the chance to play together in the pre-World Cup games against Peru, Ecuador and Honduras before the competition gets underway on June 12, with England’s opening game against Italy on June 14.
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