Sturridge Kane be in same class as Harry...
DANIEL Sturridge belongs to the same class of striker as Harry Kane, according to Albion boss Alan Pardew.
Pardew has signed Sturridge on loan from Liverpool for the remainder of the season in the hope of boosting the Baggies’ goal threat as they fight to remain in the Premier League.
The 28-year-old has had his injury problems, but back in November 2016 he was selected ahead of Kane when England defeated Scotland 3-0 and headed the opening goal.
Kane has won the last two Premier League golden boot awards and is top of the scoring charts again this season. However, Pardew believes Sturridge has the potential to be just as good as the Spurs front man.
“You would have to put him in the same category as Harry Kane,” said Pardew.
“Harry has had a great spell in terms of fitness and is at the top of his game. That’s understandable that he is probably ahead of Daniel.
“But Daniel has the potential, particularly against teams I think where you need goals, where you need to break them down, he has some individual flair that not many players can match.
“So if we can get him fit and anywhere near his best, I am sure (England manager) Gareth (Southgate) will be taking a close look.”
Sturridge trained with his new team-mates for the first time on Monday morning and has already impressed Pardew.
“He looks well, and has already done a couple of things to make you go, ‘Oooh’ in a good way,” he said. “He’s a good lad, he’s hungry to do well for West Brom because Birmingham is his home town.
“He sees in us a potential to move his career forward in this period we’re together.
“Since I’ve been here I’ve tried to change the emphasis to a more attacking mode by playing with two strikers, but the goals-for column hasn’t significantly moved.
“I wanted to add to that positivity and bring in a statement player who’s got a good record and scores one goal every two games or just over that. He’s a fantastic player, who could go to the World Cup.” Tyler Roberts has completed a permanent move to Leeds United. The youngster passed a medical and agreed personal terms on a fourand-a-half-year contract, after deciding to move on from Albion.
Progressing through the club’s academy, the Welsh international enjoyed only one outing in Albion colours – that was a 17-minute cameo on the final game of 2015-16 season, a 1-1 draw with Liverpool.
The 19-year-old went on to learn his trade in loan spells with Oxford, Shrewsbury and, more recently, Walsall, where he scored five times in the first half of this season.
Though Albion were keen to tie him down to a new deal, with his current contract up this summer, Roberts has decided to venture away from The Hawthorns in order to source more regular first-team football.
The fee agreed is thought to be in the region of £2.5m, though it could rise to £4m.
Nick Hammond, Albion’s technical director, said: “We certainly didn’t want to lose one of our bright Academy prospects but Tyler and his representatives made it very clear he wanted to join Leeds.
“We have been actively trying to agree a new contract with him for a period of time but have been unable to do so.
“He is a fantastic young man who feels that for his future he wants to make a permanent move now and start playing regularly.
“Leeds United made us an exceptionally good offer and importantly we have also secured excellent protection further down the line if Tyler reaches his undoubted potential.
“We wish him and his family well going forward.”