Sturridge would be more Owen less Shearer for Newcastle
Published:
Newcastle United have a history of spending big on English strikers and they could be set to do so again.
According to The Guardian, Daniel Sturridge is the next name being lined up by the Premier League outfit and they are willing to spend £30m to bring in the Liverpool forward.
Alan Shearer was the first big-name signing of the Premier League era for the Magpies, as the Tynesiders broke the world transfer record by spending £15m to sign the Blackburn Rovers man.
Shearer went on to score 206 goals in 405 appearances for the Magpies, with Sturridge currently possessing a better strike rate for the Reds having found the net 44 times in 72 games.
However, the Liverpool man’s current run of injuries, that has seen him limited to six appearances in all competitions this season, mean comparisons should be drawn to another striker.
Michael Owen signed for Newcastle in 2005 after a year of settling for substitute appearances at Real Madrid and the Magpies parted with a then club record £16.8m to obtain the England international.
The Ballon d’Or winner received a hero’s welcome when he was unveiled at St James’ Park, with 20,000 Geordies gathering in the stadium to welcome their new signing.
However, Owen would never go on to justify this hype and injury problems severely limited his playing time for Newcastle.
Sturridge’s current run of injuries is reminiscent of what the World Cup 98 star went through on Tyneside, where he suffered a major injury every season, and it’s impossible not to draw comparisons.
The Magpies were relegated in his last season at the club, with the TV pundit departing having managed only 30 goals and 79 appearances in all competitions over the course of four seasons in the north east.
Clearly, Newcastle have history with injury-prone England strikers failing to deliver for them and they would be wise not to make the same mistake again.
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