Sturridge puts Santa in the shade

WHILE the future of Roque Santa Cruz was the inevitable sideshow to Mark Hughes’s return to Blackburn, a dramatic conclusion to what had seemed a routine Rovers win will have given the Welshman food for thought.

Hughes is believed to be the front-runner for Santa Cruz’s signature but the arrival of the Paraguayan would have knock-on effects — not least, throwing into doubt the future of a teenage talent who helped Hughes avert a potentially disastrous defeat.

Daniel Sturridge, 19, is in the final year of his contract at City and, aware that Chelsea are among the teams interested in him, will be even more reluctant to stay if Hughes adds Santa Cruz to his squad during the transfer window.