Daniel Sturridge has scored six goals so far this season, two in World Cup qualifiers, four in the EFL Cup. That tells the story of his strange situation, one that is unfortunately not unusual for English players: vital for the national team, but not especially important to his club side.

The fact that Sturridge has only started four of Liverpool’s 11 Premier League games this season shows what Jurgen Klopp thinks about his skills and his effect on the team. Gareth Southgate clearly feels differently, though, starting Sturridge up front for all three of the Group F games of his tenure so far.

Sturridge started at Wembley against Scotland on Friday evening even though Southgate could have picked Harry Kane, his old centre-forward from the England Under-21 team, back fit again after seven weeks out with an ankle injury. He rewarded Southgate with an instinctive headed goal to put England ahead, a vital goal in disrupting Scotland’s plan to turn the home crowd.

It certainly must make a pleasant change for the situation Sturridge finds himself in at Liverpool. “He’s got a lot of faith in me,” Sturridge said of Southgate. “I’m trying to repay him as best as I can. If I can perform well in the games, that’s important. We have beaten Scotland, that’s a big game and big result for us. It is important for every player to have the manager’s confidence.”

With Sturridge there is always a but, a feeling that he is not quite making the most of brilliant talents, both technical and physical. There is the issue of injuries, the fact that almost 10 years on from his senior debut, he has only managed to start half of his team’s Premier League game in two seasons, 2011-12 at Chelsea, 2013-14 at Liverpool. That was the problem last year, but this year he is fit and the problem is slightly different: Klopp simply thinks that Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho is his best front three.

Klopp is measured in what he says about Sturridge in public, but there has been criticism of him recently from those who think he does not do enough for the team. Sturridge is not afraid of speaking out when he has an opinion and he made very clear what he thinks of that critique. “I’m not worried about what other people say about me,” he said. So is that particular point fair? “It’s unfair. It’s unfair. I feel that I contribute to the team. I assist, I score goals. It doesn’t matter what people say about me.”

England vs Scotland player ratings Show all 30 1 /30 England vs Scotland player ratings England vs Scotland player ratings ENGLAND: 15-Mike Brown Busy game, his best for a while, not least for his left-footed kicking option. Equalled Matt Perry’s record as most-capped England full-back (36). 7/10 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 14-Anthony-Watson Frustrating day at the office. Did little wrong but not as involved as he should be. Still learning the Chris Ashton-style tracking skills. 6 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 13-Jonathan Joseph Wonderful early try when he came short off Ford and jinked past Hogg for his fourth try of the tournament. Looked a class act once again. 7 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 12-Luther Burrell Failed to trust his left-hand pass in first minute, butchering a try. Not hitting the heights of last year but offers a physical threat. AP England vs Scotland player ratings 11-Jack Nowell Relished the open spaces with ball in hand but blew a try and got sucked in too easily defensively. Still a work in progress at this level. 7 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 10-George Ford Threatened Scotland throughout with his delayed passes on the gain-line. Ghosted through for valuable try soon after the break. 8 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 9-Ben-Youngs Improvement from Dublin. Took more responsibility and varied his game well around fringes. Holding off Wigglesworth’s challenge. 8 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 1-Joe Marler Penalised more than once at the scrum but, after 10 successive starts, has plenty of credit in the bank. 6 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 2-Dylan Hartley His lineout arrows were slightly off. He remains under fierce pressure for the No 2 shirt from Tom Youngs. 5 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 3-Dan Cole Lucky to avoid yellow card for his goal-line lunge at the ruck. His discipline was a bit loose but put in good shift at the scrum. 6 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 4 -Dave Atwood The Bath man is always a force in the maul and scrum but still needs to do bit more around the park. 6 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 5-Courtney Lawes Big impact on his first appearance since the autumn. Prominent in lineout and put constant pressure on the Scots, as Russell can testify. 8 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 6-James Haskell Questionable whether he is doing enough to fend off Wood’s challenge for the No 6 shirt. His forward pass denied Brown a second-half try. 6 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 7-Chris Robshaw As consistent as ever. Stuart Lancaster’s fear must be whether the skipper can keep going at full throttle until the World Cup is done. 7 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 8-Billy Vunipola Scotland kept him under wraps pretty well. Like Robshaw, no doubting his engine. His power from standing start is wondrous at times. 7 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings SCOTLAND: 15-Stuart Hogg Saved Scotland three times with his last-ditch tackles on Burrell and Brown during the early English siege. 8 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 14-Dougie Fife Will be pleased with his efforts after coming in for Sean Lamont. Did not look out of place and made crucial try-saving tackle on Nowell. 7 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 13-Mark Bennett Looks set for a long spell in the No 13 shirt. The Glasgow centre took his try well and shows terrific composure for a 22-year-old. 8 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 12-Matt Scott Flew out the line to provide Joseph with his fifth-minute try. First Test start for a year and looked like it. 6 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 11-Tommy Seymour Forced to switch from right to left wing and coped efficiently. Honours even with his battle with Watson. 7 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 10-Finn Russell Good touches though did not enjoy the close attentions of Lawes and Co. But Scots must keep the faith - he can get a back-line moving. 6 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 9-Greig Laidlaw Raised the tempo when called for. The experienced No 9 is a vital presence in such a young back-line. 7 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 1-Alasdair Dickinson Tends to fade in later part of the match but his lineout work is as good as at any time in his career. 5 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 2-Ross Ford Tends to fade in later part of the match but his lineout work is as good as at any time in his career. 7 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 3-Euan Murray Equalled Allan Jacobsen’s caps record for a Scottish prop (65). The former Lion still has plenty to offer, in the set piece at least. 7 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 4-Jim Hamilton Brought in by Vern Cotter for his physicality and strength in the maul and he didn’t let his coach down. Is a more disciplined player these days. 7 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 5-Jonny Gray Scotland’s captain-in-waiting according to some. A menace in the lineout and shows maturity beyond his years – he was 21. 7 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 6-Robert Harley Possibly shaded the battle of the blind-sides. Likes to annoy opponents and generally succeeds. 6 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 7-Blair Cowan Earning an unwanted reputation for conceding penalties, but he remains a key cog in this side. One of the best turnover merchants around. 7 Getty Images England vs Scotland player ratings 8-David Denton Gave Scotland a good ball-carrying outlet and more bulk in the tight exchanges. Decent performance before giving way to Beattie. 6 Getty Images

In this England team, Sturridge has an important role to play leading the line and creating the space for the imaginative players. Southgate plays a narrow 4-2-3-1 with Wayne Rooney, Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana all behind him, and if Sturridge were to drop off too there would be no room for anyone else. So England need Sturridge, as far as possible, to run off the shoulder, worry the defenders, force them back, creating space for others.

“If I’m coming short to get involved in the game, then there is nobody up front in the centre forward position,” Sturridge explained. “It is important for the team to have a focal point. If I drop deep and get on the ball, then there is nobody up front. That is where I need to be. I need to be threatening the centre-halves, pushing them and creating space for other people. That’s why we have a No 10 and [on Friday] it was Rooney. I need to make space for him. If I drop deep it cramps his style a bit. It’s about positional awareness.”

The problem for Sturridge is that this sounds like a very good description of what Harry Kane does for Tottenham. He is the lone striker in Mauricio Pochettino’s 4-2-3-1, and excels about the selfless work for the good of his team, as well as the penalty box poaching which has always been Sturridge’s strength. Kane will not be involved against Spain on Tuesday night, as he continues to return to full fitness. Sturridge, then, is likely to start up front again.