Sturridge: 'I'm not a big-time Charlie'

Sturridge put pen to paper on a one-year deal at Aggborough earlier this week as part of a glut of new signings by boss Mark Yates.

The 32-year-old Brummie has played all but a few months of his 15-year career at Premiership or Championship level.

He made his name as a goalscorer for Derby County in the top flight and also played for Leicester before helping Wolves end their long wait for Premiership football.

After a temporary stint at Sheffield United his latest club was Queens Park Rangers who he left at Christmas last year after injuries hampered his chances with the Championship club.

A brief loan spell with Torquay United as a youngster is the diminutive frontman's only taste of football in the lower reaches.

But Sturridge has assured fans he has the hunger for the muck and nettles of the Nationwide Conference.

He said: "I can assure you there won't be a big-time Charlie scenario where I'm behind the scenes saying `I've done this and that, listen to me.'

"But if anyone wants a little pointer or wants to ask me something, I'll definitely be there, I'll be all ears.

"At the end of the day there's going to be a paying public out there and Mark Yates has had the confidence in me.

"He could have been a person who said Dean Sturridge hasn't played for the past six months and I'm not taking a gamble on him.

"His reputation is on the line and my reputation is on the line - I've got to go out there and prove that I can still do it."

Sturridge has not played competitive football for more than six months but he is not worried about the physical side of Conference football.

"I come from a strong, hard family," said Sturridge, whose brother Simon played alongside Yates at Birmingham City.

"I understand there's going to be bumps and scrapes but that's part and parcel of football.

"The desire is not lacking and I'm very much looking forward to it.

"I realise it can be a different kind of football and it can be more aggressive.

"The Premiership is a thinking man's game and although the Championship is more blood and thunder players are still thinking about what they do.

"It will be a learning curve to me to find out exactly how defenders at this level adapt to different situations and how my team-mates see the game."

Sturridge believes the qualities that helped him shine on the Premiership stage will also serve him well in non-league football's top division - but he insists he is only as good as the players around him.

"I like to run around, work hard and contribute," he added.

"I'll look to my team-mates for their attributes and hopefully they'll respect my attributes which are getting on the end of things, creating chances for people and scoring goals.

"I know if balls are put into the 18-yard box, that's where I come alive and that's where I've earned my living throughout my career and that won't be changing in the next season either."