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Brendan Rodgers says Daniel Sturridge will feel right at home in next summer’s World Cup – because he has all the attributes of a Brazilian striker.

And the Liverpool boss believes the 23-year-old is showing all the signs that he will become England's leading marksman in the future.

Birmingham-born Sturridge marked his return to the second city with the match-winning goal against Aston Villa on Saturday night - just seven days after his goal put Stoke City to the sword at Anfield.

Sturridge broke the deadlock midway through the first-half at Villa Park when he showed dazzling footwork to slalom his way through the home defence.

The £12m man's back-to-back strikes have taken his Liverpool tally to 13 goals in just 18 appearances since joining the club in January and helped the Reds to their best start to a season for five years.

Rodgers was thrilled with Sturridge's performance at the weekend and says England - who are hoping to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Brazil - are lucky to have such a potent striker at their disposal.

But the Liverpool manager has told Sturridge that he cannot get carried away with his red-hot form and must continue to work hard on the training ground.

Do so and Rodgers believes the former Chelsea man will become a predatory force for the Three Lions.

“If you look at Daniel Sturridge and what he has, as long as he continues and keeps his fitness, he would be a big, big threat for any team," said Rodgers.

"You'd look at him and people would think he'd maybe be a Brazilian striker with his body physique and his pace and power.

"England are fortunate to have him because he's a big, big talent. But he knows he needs to be consistent, he needs to get himself the games and the goals. I have got no doubt that he will be a massive asset for England."

“It's about consistency," he added.

"He's been here since January and strikers are judged on goals in games, and if you judge him on that his record's very good. But it's still very early, he's a lot more to do, but there is absolutely no question he's potentially the top English striker. He's got all the tools to be that. It was a terrific goal, good finish, good composure and another excellent performance from him.”

Sturridge arrived at Anfield in January with the reputation as a disruptive force who would never fulfil his potential.

Rodgers publicly warned the young striker that a move to Liverpool represented his final chance.

But Sturridge's response has been terrific and asked what has been the key to his transformation, Rodgers said: “There's a few things. Firstly, it's opportunity and confidence.

"He's a player that thrives on confidence. He's come into a really special football club where the supporters have made him feel really welcome and he's thriving on that. He's always had the ability but it's very difficult.

"He was at a great club at Manchester City and probably when he was about to get his chance, having come through the system there, all the money came into the club and there probably was no opportunity for a young player.

“So he made the move to Chelsea thinking maybe he was going to get more opportunities but there was Didier Drogba, senior players in front of him, so he never really got the chance, and then when he did play it was probably more in a wide area. He's a No9, he can move, he can sprint, he's a really good footballer as well, he's not just a goalscorer. You see his movement, his touch, and he's thrived on the confidence of his team-mates and the people around the club.”

Rodgers continued: "Liverpool's one of the most iconic clubs in the world. He was obviously leaving a good club at Chelsea but he's now come into a club that is worldwide, so he's never going to have a better platform, and he had the confidence of a manager who has always believed in him. It's been work. He's not used to playing. But we just said to him, 'You need to throw the dice, get out on the training field every day, work your socks off and everything else will take care of itself.'”